Sunday Train

On Sundays the trains are mostly sad
People close their eyes and sleep
Or pretend to sleep
There’s real poverty on the train
And disappointment and loss
And the silence says a lot
About families and jobs
And a certain way of life,
Even the conductors sound very tired
When their voices are supposed
To be happy and cheerful,
And the security guards get on
Board checking for tickets—
It’s a dull job, like many other jobs
And they are looking proud and strong,
Like they are taught
And when the train comes to my stop,
There is a relief to get away from
The train and the night,
Which was not quite what I wanted
It to be

by Damion Hamilton