At Old Railroad Stations

Franz Werfel 1890 (Prague) – 1945 (Manhattan)



At these tiny old railroad stations,
Which my own train long ago left behind,
I fear for the pressing crush of people
Departing, who pass on this stretch of track.

And I would like to see myself rise
Above the ones waiting on the platform,
So that I am as far as I can be now
On my journey in this rattlebox life,

So that I know bridges and tunnels,
The sea-, lake-, rock-, and cityscapes,
So my eyes and ears are pierced with knowing,
With those unknown in their seats,

So that they'll still be sitting in Times' train,
Brooding at the window, watching sparks fly
And the flashing of the tragic signals,
When I long got off at the destination.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

37 sec read
78

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXX XXXX BAXX XXBX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 637
Words 124
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Franz Werfel

Franz Viktor Werfel was an Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright, and poet whose career spanned World War I, the Interwar period, and World War II. more…

All Franz Werfel poems | Franz Werfel Books

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