Last Ghost Train

Last Ghost Train

Smoke rises in puffs from the fiery smoke stack,

The engine looms big, dark, ominous like a train from Hell,

Listen closely for the haunting bell - signaling for all to board,

Smell the red-hot coals burning in the belly of this big Iron Horse.

The devil has returned to collect dead souls for another ride,

He is the engineer, the conductor, the owner of this supernatural stallion,

Tonight, the hobo will be lonely no more as he is joined by other lost souls,

Eerily there is a lonely wail as the machine lunges into motion.

Slowly the phantom locomotive pulls out of the station, picking up speed,

The lantern on the front of the train comes to life with a dimly glowing light,

Soon you can hear the clickity-clack of the steel wheels rolling down the rails,

As the whistle blows one last time, through the smoke and thunderous roar from the legions of death,

Tonight, would be the last journey for Engine 1003 - the last ghost train taking Satan home....

3/6/2018

 

Reviews

[Neville]

Great title, great old black & white pic & a grateful intercity commuter who chose to get a cab home and give the train a miss., just on a hunch something might be afoot. Oh' great little poem too & get this, a great idea to use that spooky old trains number.............Here's to ya Ghost.....Neville a grateful literary friend

[Ghost]

Thank you Neville for such a kind comment.. I couldn't do my write without including the number on front of locomotive... But the picture was such an inspiration. Thanks again

[Neville]

No problem, my pleasure.....Neville

[barleygirl]

This is one of the best of yours that I’ve read so far. I’ve got Juliespenhere to thank, since she read requested me on your poem. I have to admit, I get tired of reading the numerous love poems on this website (by all writers, not just you), so I get excited to see you writing about a different & uncommon topic. I love the ghost train metaphor & the way you carry this theme thru-out your message. I love your powerful imagery like “red hot coals in the belly” and “supernatural stallion” & much more. You do a great job of including many sensory words such as “clickety-clack” so we almost can feel the rumble & smell the smoke. I wonder who will be on this train? I guess most would prefer not to be?!?!! *smile* Fondly, Margie

[Ghost]

Thank you for reading... I liked the picture and it set me into writing from things I have seen or heard or read... I was a fun write, thank you for your comment..

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Great stuff
Love this
Thought provoking piece thanks

[Ghost]

Thank you for reading... I am glad you liked it...

[Crowley]

What a cool pic. Gripping and dark just as it should be as a prompt for that photo. I always wonder why old trains get that dark and evil moniker attached to them. Maybe the color or the bulky iron, menacing look. Maybe the black smoke pouring out the stack. Great tone here. I really enjoyed it!

[Ghost]

Thanks for checking it out, glad you liked it as well... I have wondered that myself.. But here I seen this picture and well this poem came out...

[Kelly Scheppers]

You wowed me with goose bumps with THAT ending! All this really needed, other than Vincent Price reciting it, was a bowl of popcorn! Much enjoyed, Earl!

[Ghost]

Thank you so very much Kelly, I feel honored that everyone liked it..

[Cherrie Palmer]

I love riding on a train, you have taken those elements of travel and let it mingle with darkness. Vincent Price would be proud.

[Ghost]

Wow that is an honor to read being told Vincent price would be proud... Thank you for such a nice comment. There was something about the picture that pulled me in and drew my words out.

[sette]

what a mysterious poem, I enjoyed reading it because up to the end I don't know how it will end. good writing

[Ghost]

Thank you I loved matching it up to the picture.. Seems to be well done

[sette]

you are welcome

[CM-Stars]

*comes out from under her covers* lol

What a scary tale. What imagery! I felt as if I had boarded. Excellent write and I loved how it was delivered.

“Red hot coals”, “Big Iron Horse” , “clickety clack of the steel wheels”. Fantastic stuff.

Question, why the number 1003?

[Ghost]

thank you for this comment. I put the number because it is on the front of train in the picture.. so I kind of ran with it.. But thank you so much

[CM-Stars]

Duh. Way to be so observant Charlotte lol