The Tracks Between Us
Last night you came to me again,
quiet as the steam rising from your Conrail mug –
Maxwell House, the way you always drank it,
black with no sugar.
We stood in the railroad yards,
where the air once hummed with iron and heat.
Here, your mind knew every trembling board,
as we counted gondolas, tankers and boxcars.
You warned me to stay close,
to watch for the dangerous attractions –
the shining rails, that distant shimmering light beam…
the things that look still until they move.
But I was just a child back then,
and you were my steady quiet beneath the noise.
Your hand was a signal I never wanted to miss,
your sentinel eyes always watching over me.
Now I stand alone on the tracks,
boots firmly pressed on the dilapidated wooden tracks,
feeling the thrum of something older than grief…
a palpable silence heavier than steel.
I swear I hear the echo of your voice
carrying on the frigid November breeze.
My heart lifts, knowing that you never really left –
for your heartbeat still keeps time with mine.
Colleen Keller Breuning © 2025
November 8, 2025
Happy Saturday! It’s been a busy work week, but I am looking forward to a free weekend ahead for chores and getting organized around the house before Thanksgiving. Maybe even raking leaves, woo hoo! The great news is that work has decided to give us a SECOND Wellness Week for the entire Thanksgiving week. Yay!
When I was thinking about the prompt of unforgettable dreams, it occurred to me that one of my most frequent dream visitors is my father. The dream themes vary, from past memories to me trying hard to save him. But each time I wake up, no matter the subject, I always feel comforted that he’s visited me and is always with me. I have written many poems about my Dad before, so I naturally gravitated in this direction. Trains and railroad yards will forever have significance in my life because of Dad. I smile when I think about the times he took me along to work at some of the different railroad yard locations. I cherish those times, and all memories my family and I made with him. I miss you and love you, Dad! ❤
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Xoxo,
Colleen
Inspiration: “My Ashes” by Porcupine Tree
Ecrits Blogophilia Week 19.17 – Dangerous Attractions
Hard Bonus: Incorporate an unforgettable dream
Easy Bonus: Use a brand or flavor of coffee (Maxwell House)
Colleen Keller Breuning 
Ah, what a beautiful tribute poem to your father! The imagery and emotions come shining through in your words. KUDOS Dear Earthling! ❤
I admire the manner in which you manage to meld melancholy into memory when reflecting on family times, especially those involving your Dad. I am feeling those pangs lately… no ghosts, no dreams, just the realization that in a week, we will be looking at my Mom being gone ten years. I still talk to her, but not nearly as often as I did for a while.
I rode a train once, that went nowhere, but it got me there, and back. I am not talking about the train that got us out of second grade class for a field trip to downtown Memphis. The train I speak of resided in a place called Lakeland, Tennessee.. The train does not exist anymore. Neither does the community. It vanished with the onslaught of civilization.
There was a Sky Ride, but that is another story for another day.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, C.B.