the train leaving now

In my rush to get to the right platform

looking for signs to where I want to go

it's easy to miss changing announcements

so when a train pulls in, shiny windows

showing empty carriages of new seats

hope it's mine, look for its destination

over the engine's windscreen but it's blank

so I ask a member of staff nearby

but they shake their head "Not for you" they say

with a look I don't understand, pointing

up the track to where a battered old train

waits already, covered with graffitti.

A smartly dressed man pauses beside us

mutters something about "Should be locked up!"

before taking a breath as if his last

and climbing on with a look of disgust.

A woman stops  "Whoever did this

has no respect for public property!"

The member of staff shakes their head sadly.

An old man sighs "It's the youth of today!

Don't know what responsibility means!"

A mum comes up with an empty pushchair

peering round wildly "Have you seen my son?"

A shaking of heads, no one's seen any children.

She shows us a photo on her phone, then

wanders off, calling. My train's filling up.

A girl and boy maybe on their first date

so young and hopeful, climb on the new train

which still has no destination. I go

to get on my train, the smell of stale sweat

tempered with chemicals swallows me, warm

air breathed thousands of times obscures windows

which can't open. Suddenly I want off!

"Are you mad?" others grumble, as I march

against the flow. They are settling down

opening crisps, swiping phones, sipping cups.

 

Where's the new train going with all that space?

 

Back on the platform I'm surprisd to see

each window of each carriage has a face.

Maybe it's going to a theme park or

a school trip because everyone is young.

I see the lost boy from the woman's phone

even as there's a station announcement

for a little girl in a purple dress

"if anyone finds her..." Then another.

The sound of names called, louder, shrill, people

searching. The new train hisses, its doors close.

"They're there!" I shout, pointing, but I'm drowned out

by a whistle as the new train sweeps by

the young faces looking out and waving

at the growing group of frantic parents.

"Where's it going?" a father shouts, "Stop it!"

They surround the member of staff and me

so I hear when they reply "Too late, sir!"

"Well, where's the next stop then?" begs a mother.

"I'm sorry, that's the future, it can't stop."

"But it must be going somewhere, where's that?"

"Nowhere, Madam. All children from now on

have no hope. Their future goes nowhere,"

Some collapse to their knees sobbing, some blame

the station announcements for not being clear,

others  demand to see the manager.

 

Later on TV there's an interview,

the Manager says "People bought tickets,

the destination was as advertised

and there are no refunds because children are priceless!

You put Now ahead of the future, seems

you'd rather dream of space than save their Earth -

the one, real, perfect miracle of Life.

It was up to you and you let them down."

 

I turn it off. What else could I have done?

  

 

after reading harrowing https://www.abctales.com/story/harveyjoseph/lost-children

also IP Talking Heads Road to Nowhere