The Apocalypse Cannonball

by LIJ Red

We played along the shiny rails
my little sisters, dog, and I
behind the storm's tall scary sails
the rising sun lit up the sky.

We had some eggs we hoped to trade
at market in the country town
we wrangled, laughing as we played
behind us, pale old moon went down.

We felt the tremor long before
we heard the lonesome whistle blow
and stepped aside to hear the roar
and see the pufferbelly go.

Dull black and tall, and breathing Hell
with rolling, grinding, grating sound
her whistle screamed, and then her bell
aroused the loungers in the town.

Old timers claimed the broken roads
were filled with lines of shiny trucks
and silver birds with costly loads
filled skies in vees like flocking ducks

But now we play along the track
'neath empty deep blue sky above
and hope the antique train brings back
new life to this land that we love.

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I wrote this for the pix this club challenge, then decided the Sapphonic Triad about the Fireball Mail was more Fanstoryish. After all, a country devastated by economic collapse, anarchy, violence and plague showing the first signs of recovery is pretty far out. But I had fun writing this, and hope someone will enjoy reading it. If I had used it for the challenge, I'd have polished it up...

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Pix this reject, six quatrains

The Apocalypse Cannonball

by LIJ Red

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