xxi
Leaving next day by car
Heading down the early night motorway
From Mangere Bridge where
We pick up a disputed art work
south-east of Bombay
We get lost on dark, unknown roads
Trying to find Paddy of Patumahoe
In the back roads near Pukekohe
Criss-crossing the Glenbrook railway line
. . . after we have a moe
We are early morning, southward bound towards Kapiti
Disappearing Railroad Blues Sonnet
(thanks to Arlo and Woody)
We caught the last 'Northerner' overnight train service
between Auckland and Wellington in response to
that particular piece of corporate vandalism. It was
appropriate that me and my friend Paddy, who
worked on the railway with me in Otago, should
take the final ticket to ride (Yes, its true, all those
old Irish songs about Paddy and Mick working on
the railway!!!). During the trip I showed my novel
'Unlevel Crossings' to the train crew, and they really
loved it, as part of it describes the overnight journey
from Auckland to Wellington. All the train crew
including the engine drivers, signed it for me
so I have a lasting memento of the event and another
cross-over between working class and literary realities
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment