Four-Hour Journey


‘Come home quick’ the phone call said
So I headed to the station at once.
‘No trains tonight’ the sign said
‘Sorry for any inconvenience.’
And so, inconvenienced, I went back
To my halls to sleep.

Early that morning I boarded my train
Peterborough, King Cross, London Bridge,
Familiar sights as I sped south.
Home.
Off the train and over the bridge –
Too late.
‘He died in the night. There was nothing you could’ve done’

A four-hour journey,
Ten hours too late.