Late the train happy the passengers
finally we departed Denver's Station
soon thereafter climbing snow white
mountains, traversing sharp curves,
passing through twenty six tunnels,
enjoying the wildlife along the route
exhilarant the nine thousand plus foot
elevations, crisp, clear, frosty white.

Inside the spacious coaches people
laughing, talking, sleeping, ambling,
families, friends, or by themselves
exploring the sightseer lounge car,
the snack shop, or the dining car,
but best of all, meeting travelers
getting to know a bit of each other
sort of a common travel camaraderie.

The octogenarian a most charming lady
in the lounge car just returning from a
sad occasion, exchanged views of her
home town of some fifty years ago as
I remembered it, now much changed;
we joined another for lunch in the Diner
a most pleasant conversation ensued of
 San Francisco and Frazer-Winter Park.

Yet for me there was another encounter
right in front of the seat I was sitting a
younger devoted mother with daughter who
reminded me in size, color, behavior, savvy
of a family member, even their names are
similar, Nalani and Leilani as are their ages;
the Mom a wonderful person, warm, unique,
struggling to survive, my heart went out to her
as we parted she told me her name it was Angel.

Herbert Holzbauer
© March 2005

Midi: "Num Kang Tond Chaow"
(Morning Dew)
Mai Charoeunpura
(www.sunncity.com)