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 Etwas Gedanken

The Last Train


She stubbed out the cigarette after one long, last drag
The books were heavy as she adjusted the strap of her bag
A black cat looked unwavering at her, from under the chairs
She froze just a moment and then headed on up the stairs
A fruitful but long day of studying had exhausted her brain
She checked her watch and prayed she would catch the last train
The concourse was deserted, even the control room had nobody inside
She brushed the rising sense of wonder and incredulity aside
As she tapped the fare collector, its beep sounded unnaturally loud
She almost jumped, "It must be the absence of the crowd!"

She looked into the distance, no headlamps were to be seen
So she went to a concrete pillar to rest her back and lean
She turned up to the display, but it was strangely blank
Dreading that she had missed the last service, her body slowly sank
She was starting to drift off but woke up with a start
Seeking any approaching train, her eyes were quick to dart
Sure enough, she could see light glinting off the tracks
She scrambled to her feet, dusting off the back of her slacks
The obvious relief in her was quickly replaced by a frown
The train was showing virtually no signs of slowing down
If anything, it picked up speed and seemed to be getting quicker
It was then that the platform illumination started to flicker
Unnervingly, there was no familiar rumbling in the ground
Shrieking into her ears was the complete absence of any sound
Despite the barreling train, there was no gale in her hair
But suddenly she was hit by a dank, oppressive odour in the air
Peering at the passengers inside, she could only make out a swarm
Alarmed, she slowly stepped back away from the platform
All she had seen was the moving blur of a massive crowd
Each passenger was upside down and dressed in a black shroud
She looked at the receding red lights, almost like a dream
Frantic by now, she raised her arms and let out a scream

Weak in her legs, she shook and sobbed in disbelief
Footsteps sounding behind made her turn around in relief
Sure enough, it was a uniformed station staff member
"You're trespassing!", he seemed irate and in a foul temper
In recent years, there had been a spike in graffiti and vandalism
She recounted all events to him, much to his skepticism
She described the windows framing numerous, featureless faces
Now all gone, leaving behind no material traces
He had been on his rounds, making sure nothing stirred
About to lock up and go home, when her cry had been heard
He softened, "Perhaps you had a nightmare or a bad fright"
"Miss, the last train was an hour ago earlier tonight"

(Based on a legend surrounding the Singapore mass rapid transit system. Supposedly, every night there is a "special" last train to ferry only the dead. This train cannot be seen by most people; some do see it however and have given birth to these legends).







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