At a snow-dusted train station, strangers trade glances, gossip, and quiet cruelties while others hold close to what matters. J. A. Farina captures a morning where prejudice, longing, and fleeting beauty all stand on the same platform.
Wrapped in mist, dawn breaks through its first dull rays into night’s wall. They mingled with the platform lights and window glow, causing a checkerboard effect in silver and gold.
The waiting room begins to fill — middle aged man, camel hair overcoat, black kid-leather briefcase in hand, globe & mail financial page folded under his arm, eyes cold and blue.
The ticket clerk observant gave a practiced “yes, sir.”
Outside, under light snow, mothers kiss departing sons — through whispers of those standing in line exhaling their morning coffee breaths.
Some eyes directed at the immigrant too, their son with them, interpreting their words, whispers of hate and fear — some spit and laugh, some act like they don’t care.
A slender woman enters. Not fooled, the nudges came, the messed up hair, the mini-dress revealing just enough for lustful glances and matronly disgust.
Near the platform door a child sits silent by her mother’s side; eyes following falling snowflakes. Her pale skin in pale light whispers waiting for the train to stop. She holds the child closer, both their faces upturned to the falling snow.
✍️ About the Authors
Joseph A Farina is a retired lawyer and award winning poet, in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. His poems have appeared in Philadelphia Poets,Tower Poetry, The Windsor Review, and Tam.
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