A poem about my experience of ‘travelling’ on Britain’s railways

Selected poems

The Poet Now Standing at Platform 3A

The poet now standing at platform 3A
is the delayed 14.30 speaker for the Wits’ End Poetry Festival,
calling at: Longwaite; Anguish; Bleakside;
Much Wallowing-in-the-Mire; Little Hope;
Hangdog Manor; High Dudgeon; Irk; Fuckham; Mope;
Doldrum Parkway; Wearyside Central; and Wits’ End.

We are sorry to announce this poet is delayed
by approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
Please listen for further announcements.
We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

The poet now standing at platform 3A
is the delayed 14.30 speaker for the Wits’ End Poetry Festival.
Please note, this poet will now NOT be stopping at:
Great Ease; Serenity Junction; or Arrival-on-Time.

This poet has been delayed by approximately one hour
and forty-eight minutes.
Customers are advised to stand well back from the poet,
who’s on edge.
Please listen for further announcements.
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.

The poet currently standing at platform 3A
is the delayed 14.30 speaker for the Wits’ End Poetry Festival.
This poet consists of nine elements:
oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, tedium, delirium,
odium, caffeine, shortbread, and despair.

A trolley service, featuring mild palpitations
and a selection of hot and cold sweats,
is trundling through this poet.

This poet has been delayed by approximately two hours
and twenty-three minutes.
Please listen for further disruptions.
We apologise for the announcements to your journey today.

There has been a platform altercation.
The agony at platform 3A does not stop here.
The 14.30 speaker for the Wits’ End Poetry Festival has been disrupted.
Customers should not bore the poet at this time.

The platform now standing on poet 3A has been delayed
by approximately three hours and forty-two minutes.
We apologise for the apologies to your disruptions today.

If you hear an announcement that doesn’t sound right,
seek your stash. Or text a local dealer on 61016
to help you through this.
He’ll sort it. Seek it. Pay it. Snorted.

Please note that for your safety and comfort
this station operates a no trains policy.

The festival now standing at poet 14.30 is the delayed
3A speaker for the Wits’ End Poetry platform.
We are sorry to announce that this poet has been waylaid
by approximately four hours and twenty-two minutes.
Will passengers intending to travel on this service
make their way to the platform as the poet is now ready to jump.

Please note that longings must not be left unattended at this station.
Any hope left unattended may be removed without warning, or destroyed.

This is a customer announcement.
The 14.30 speaker for the Wits’ End Poetry Festival has terminated here.
A bard replacement service will be in operation.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.


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12 thoughts on “A poem about my experience of ‘travelling’ on Britain’s railways

  1. purpleb1dda8ea90's avatar

    Any chance of a verse replacement service or are they the wrong type of poems ?

    I arranged an alternate but couldn’t metre.

    Leaves of grass on the line which can’t be seen because of the bloody daffodils.

  2. Martin Feavearyear's avatar

    Brian, nobody travels on Network Rail. Network Rail maintains the infrastructure. The running of trains is done by completely separate entities.

    Martin Feavearyear , ex of Network Rail.

    1. brianbilston's avatar

      Fair enough. I’ve changed the post title. The rest of the post stands as is. I don’t drive so I’m always trying to get to places by train. It’s always a surprise if it goes well.

      1. Martin Feavearyear's avatar

        I totally agree but when you have worked on the other side for a few years it’s a massive eye opener to what goes on outside of the control of Network Rail. They are usually explained as “points failures” or “signalling issues” as that is easier.

        Anyway, railway pedantry aside, I love your work, look forward to your emails and hope you visit Bury St Edmunds again soon.

        keep up the good work

        regards

        Martin

      2. brianbilston's avatar

        Thanks, Martin. I can only imagine what that must have been like. And it wasn’t so much that you were being pedantic as being correct, so thank you for putting me straight on that.

        I’ll be back in Bury St Edmunds in October (where I may – or may not – be reading this poem!)

  3. perfectcreativelyede00ffe24's avatar

    I love this one! Special request to read it out when you come to Chester on 4th June. Thanks in anticipation!

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