The Burnout Train

This poem was written in response to the Rattle® Poetry Ekphrastic Challenge for April 2024 and was ultimately not selected. You can find more information here.

https://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/

The Burnout Train

Gathered from the hands of weary boarders to that boxcar

Their “tickets” to ride

Pink slips and pay stubs, letters of resignation and journal pages

Proof of their brokenness and the exhaustion of their souls

The conductor sings

“This train don’t take your money, this train.”

The passengers in refrain - a sigh

Breathed easy for the first time in a long time

Burdens lifted, they settle to their seats, relaxing in their comfort

“This train will heal your spirits, this train.”

Once downcast eyes and faces blank, now rise and smile

To meet the hope for what this train brings:

Promised peace and a place to rest, to let everything

That once had wore them down - let it go free to the wind

Be rejuvenated and to find a purpose once again

“This train ain’t bound for glory,”

Ain’t going nowhere, ain’t doing nothing.”

This here’s the Burnout Train, this train.”

-

“This train holds all you nurses, this train.”

All you nurses and healthcare heroes

Oh, how you stood so steadfast

While you pulled us through that dark and death

“This train holds all you nurses, this train.”

-

“This train carries you teachers, this train.”

All you teachers and educators

Those children you’ve instructed

They’re all brats and their parents know it

“This train carries you teachers, this train.”

-

“This train pulls all you workers, this train.”

You unappreciated workers

Unseen efforts that you do

When you work three jobs to keep bills paid

“This train pulls all you workers, this train.”

-

“This train’s for all you burnouts, this train.

This train’s for all you burnouts, this train.

This train’s for all you burnouts,

Come ride when you can’t give no more.

This train’s for all you burnouts, this train.”

-

“Halle-Hallelujah-ah…this train.”

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Submitted under MRB