The Rusted Chains
The red brick housing. The sturdy bridge.
The metallic arches. The stern struts. The bolts.
The scabbed paint. The peeling. The grassy sidings.
The purple buddleia. The peck of pigeons.
The sandwich crumbs. The coffee steam.
The clenched hands. The prayer. The platform shadows.
The brown wooden awning. The stripe of sunlit tarmac.
The silvered rails. The distant lines. The update.
The heads turning.
The discarded apple core; the faded newspaper;
the child’s broken toy; the rough chippings;
the wooden sleepers; the shy rat.
The sudden voice. The pre-recorded voice.
The delay. The irritation. The distant shimmer of heat.
The willow’s stoop. The brambles. The summer poppy.
The anticipation.
The waiting.
The tender silence.
The waiting.
The blackbird’s song.
The still station.
The waiting.
The metallic arches. The stern struts. The bolts.
The scabbed paint. The peeling. The grassy sidings.
The purple buddleia. The peck of pigeons.
The sandwich crumbs. The coffee steam.
The clenched hands. The prayer. The platform shadows.
The brown wooden awning. The stripe of sunlit tarmac.
The silvered rails. The distant lines. The update.
The heads turning.
The discarded apple core; the faded newspaper;
the child’s broken toy; the rough chippings;
the wooden sleepers; the shy rat.
The sudden voice. The pre-recorded voice.
The delay. The irritation. The distant shimmer of heat.
The willow’s stoop. The brambles. The summer poppy.
The anticipation.
The waiting.
The tender silence.
The waiting.
The blackbird’s song.
The still station.
The waiting.
This poem is copyright (©) Pie Corbett 2026
About the Writer
Pie Corbett
Pie Corbett is an English educational trainer, writer, storyteller and poet. He has edited 24 anthologies and his collection, ‘Evidence of Dragons’ is a classroom staple. He was writer-in residence at the Kent festival, and has appeared at the Cheltenham and Edinburgh Festivals. He has worked on BBC radio and tv programmes, was nominated for a BAFTA and the Japanese Prize for educational tv. He is well-known for creating the Talk for Writing approach to learning, which is widely used within UK primary schools and around the world. A new collection is appearing in September from Otter-Barry Books, titled Dragon Cat.
