I wrote this after going by the old train depot at Hazard,
long after it had been vacant for awhile, it looked so
deserted and alone.




THE DEPOT
 
IT STANDS FORSAKEN
WITH THE PASSING OF TIME
A REMEMBRANCE OF THE PAST
WHEN THE OLD PASSENGERS
CHUGGED ALONG ITS TRACKS
HEAVING CLOUDS OF DARK
BLACK SMOKE TO THE HORIZON.

A MONUMENT
WELL-WORN WITH AGE
WHERE ONCE MEN STOOD
ALONG ITS PLATFORM
TALKING OVER POLITICS
AND SMOKING PIPES
WHILE CEDAR SHAVINGS
FELL IN A HEAP AROUND
THEIR FEET

AND THE WOMEN CLAD
IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST
HUDDLED TOGETHER
DISCUSSING RECIPES
AND NEW BABIES
WHILE THE CHILDREN
WAITED IN ANXIETY
FOR THE CONDUCTOR
TO APPEAR AND YELL
"ALL ABOARD!"

TODAY, ALMOST HIDDEN
BY THE VINES GROWING
AROUND ITS FRAME
SILENT IT STANDS
WHILE THE DIESELS
ROAR BY NEVER ONCE
STOPPING AT ITS DOOR--
ALONE, A CAST-A-WAY
LOST IN A WORLD OF
AUTOMATION.

THE LAUGHTER OF THE
CHILDREN HAS DIED AWAY
ME AND WOMEN GATHER
NO MORE, BUT STILL IT
WAITS IN THE SOLITUDE
OF A FORGOTTEN ERA.

--IDA LEE HANSEL--

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