Redtree Times

The whole blear world
of smoke and twisted steel
around my head in a railroad
car, and my mind wandering
past the rust into futurity:
I saw the sun go down
in a carnal and primeval
world, leaving darkness
to cover my railroad train
because the other side of the
world was waiting for dawn.

—Sunset, Allen Ginsberg, 1949

I have a lot to do this morning as I prep new work for the February Little Gems show at the West End Gallery so I am simply sharing a triad of image, word, and song with a train theme.

I went with a Thomas Hart Benton painting, an Allen Ginsberg poem, and a song from the great Sister Rosetta Tharpe who was a gospel giant and is also considered the godmother of rock and roll.

The Benton painting exudes the power and danger of a runaway train which seems fitting for today. A lot can change here in the next few days as we face a governmental upheaval that comes in with a bitter cold snap that will bring frigid temperatures to much of the country. Seems somewhat symbolic.

The Ginsberg verse has an ominous tone as well, evoking perhaps a trainwreck. Again, symbolism.

And The Sister Rosetta Tharpe song, This Train, offers a bit of redemption in the symbolic form of a train to glory.

There you have it on a cold and gray Sunday morning– fear and loathing along with a just a bit of hope that the train stays on the tracks.