Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Clattering Train by Edwin James Milliken

Who is in charge of the clattering train?
The axles creak, and the couplings strain.
For the pace is hot, and the points are near,
And Sleep hath deadened the driver’s ear:
And signals flash through the night in vain.
Death is in charge of the clattering train!

By Edwin James Milliken

6 comments:

  1. I'd never heard of this poem so looked it up and found it was a favourite of Churchill. Apparently it had been in Punch in 1890 and he quoted it when there was a train accident and the driver was blamed. He also used it when he felt Britain was not taking the threat of Germany seriously.

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    1. Yes I ran across it while watching a film about Churchill and thought it was a most appropriate quote in view of world events.

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    2. It's even more relevant three years later:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeipFiDUaH0

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  2. This poem is quoted by Churchill in Chapter 7 of his book, “The Gathering Storm.”

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  3. Churchill quotes this poem (without knowing the authorship) in Chapter 7 of his book, “The Gathering Storm.”

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  4. This poem is quoted by Churchill in Chapter 7 of his book, “The Gathering Storm.”

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