Christma Eve

It's getting dark and starting to rain
when Rabbit catches the evening train.

Clutching a brown paper bag (full of carrots)
he hops aboard
and is relieved to find an empty carriage.

He's been visiting a small market town.
Quite a long day for him.
He's pleased to sit down.

Steam drifts past his window.
He falls asleep.
It will take a lot to wake him now.

A guard (or is he a policeman?)
enters the carriage, picks Rabbit up
and places him (with his carrots)
in the luggage rack.

Other passengers pile in. They're all wearing
thick coats. Some have umbrellas.
Men in bowler hats. Women in bonnets.
Shawls.

'Just in time,' says one red-faced gentleman.

They settle into their seats. Bags, bonnets,
not coats, are disposed of in the luggage rack.
A pipe is lit. A cigar.

The journey begins.

Rabbit stirs.

'I love Christmas,' says a voice.

'Indeed,' says another.

'Merry Christmas and God Save the Queen,'
says a third.

'How nice this is,' thinks Rabbit,
as the train burrows into the tunnel.
'The dark. The train. The rain.

All is well.'

He sleeps and smells carrots.


Copyright Bernard Young.
From Wanted Alive by Bernard Young, Hands up Books, 2004