Lifeline

I was a lifeline, born of fire and water,

Maintained by those who planned a future in steam.

Over the years my importance declined

Until, after a century of service, the axe fell.

Now, only ghosts and shadows remain

Of an industrial past. Rust red ironwork,

A rail-less path, punctuated by platforms,

Bridges, waiting patiently for Banksy, all overrun by wildlife,

Trampled by well heeled walkers and joyless joggers,

Irregular crocodiles of ramblers, and those seeking solitude,

Helmeted cyclists and stabilised learners,

Binoculared twitchers and gloriously offline kids.

Maintained by those seeking no reward but my continued care,

I am a lifeline, born of earth and air.

Alastair Walker’s poem about the Southwell Trail, the former Midland Railway line that linked Mansfield to the Nottingham to Lincoln route at Rolleston Junction and Fiskerton Junction, was written in February 2019. It was given its first airing at last Friday’s, Writer’s Live Open Mic’ event at Southwell library. Like Alastair, I have been contributing to these get-togethers, held every two months and on the last Friday evening of the month, for a few years, now.

Most folk read their own poems, with a few offering prose in the form of an article or an extract from a longer work. There is an extraordinary breadth to the contributions. As the News of the World used to claim [amongst other things], all human life is there - the natural world, alternative imaginary worlds, love and affection, ageing and bereavement are all common themes, before Alastair cheers us up with his irreverent adaptation of a pop-song’s lyrics or the re-working of a well-known poem.

I have found moments during the last two meetings, particularly, to be profoundly moving. The group has really developed, it seems to me, as time has passed. I have been quite blown away by some of the candid, honest - and so incredibly personal - offerings that have been shared this year, so far. I feel humbled by the bravery exhibited in some of these very public expressions of inner-most thoughts. I feel inspired to try to raise my game in response by next time.