Railway for the Lost

By Sophia Gonzales, 16, Spain

the train continues on

restless for a home 

creaking through railways 

steering through winding and unyielding lines 

of uncharted territory

the train stops for a brief moment

departing from its familiar station 

nostalgic for a home it cannot turn towards 

yearning for the lost places of the past

the wheels turn once again 

leaving its passengers behind

the kind man with a hat 

the woman holding a smiling baby

they kiss and hug their loved ones 

forgetting the train 

who could only scrape and rust 

and groan whispers of lost hope 

throughout the twisting path 

the engine strains from nervous exhaustion 

continuing a wretched journey 

as signs swiftly pass away and vanish out of sight 

where should it travel for help?

it knows it cannot break 

the metal made too strong 

the bars made too thick 

so it continues, unnoticed and overlooked 

the conductors, engineers, crewmen 

all unaware of the painful murmurs to stop 

the pleading silenced by the chatter of passengers 

hushed by the free laughter of vacationers

so it continues without a fight 

navigating foreign terrain 

quietly searching for 

the reverie of a solaced shelter

a side road

that returns home 

---

I wrote this poem to convey the power and hurt caused by mental illness. The train symbolizes an individual struggling with depression, wanting more than anything to get back home to a place of familiarity and safety, of loved ones and support. Yet, their depression forces them to continue a hopeless and confusing journey towards foreign territory. On this journey, the train loses passengers, symbolizing hints of happiness that are shadowed by the sadness. The idea of loneliness is portrayed with the description of the train searching for help but finding none, maybe because it hides its struggles and people are unaware of the pain, believing the train is strong and overlooking cries for help.

Instagram: @sophiagonzales.04

Photo by Balazs Busznyak