Nefasit, Eritrea
Riding Acela to Boston
Connecticut towns roll by
coffee and church steeples
a successful man in coat and tie
recalling when three and twenty
with no awareness I was blessed
I hopped the train to Shegareni
on my way to Nefasit.
Wheezing ancient mallets
pulling freight cars to the sky
I took the train to Nefasit
high Summer of ‘65
Riding the rails to Ghinda
where villages crawl out of the sand
or rest, perched on rocky mountain crags
coughing and wheezing at dawn.
A mosque, a church, a goatherd
women carrying sticks
a man, a camel, a little boy
scraping for sustenance.
Women delousing children
men squatting along the road
halal butchered beef and goat
hanging from rusty hooks
‘Twas on that ancient mallet
that I learned about the world
how much of it was not like mine
for most the stars do not align.
Today I ride the Amtak
Silver Star, Miami bound
while in memory drums a clatter
the railroad of my youth.
.
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http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2007/12/26/ethiopia_eritrea_fear_of_war_increasing_
http://www.markusworldwide.ch/Railways/Steam/Eritrea/Eritrea_01.htm
toritto 
A nice memory of your younger days Frank, and very well expressed in poetry too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete. Regards
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I had to go to a map to find Eritrea! My geographical awareness is in decline, I’m afraid!
You have lived life, Frank, that is for certain!
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Sojourner – In my early 20’s I spent several years in Eritrea and traveled a good portion of East Africa and Ethiopia. During my lifetime I have traveled / worked in England, southern Europe, the mid-east, the sub-continent, China and a good chunk of the far east and spent time in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. I have never visited northern Europe, Russia or Japan – to my regret.
🙂
Regards
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Frank, you should never use the word regret. But you know that, don’t you!
This, of course, is one reason why you are so knowledgeable. Being a musician, I have performed in all but eleven states, and I have toured/performed in Germany, Switzerland and the South of France: Heidelberg, Mosbach, Montreux and Nice. And I regret that I didn’t see more of the world. But I’m thankful for what I have been given!
It’s a shame that young Americans, for the most part, spend their entire lives in a very narrow area of the world; some never leave the city they were born in.
The richest experiences I had in my life, were during these times in Europe and traveling around the country.
Thanks for bringing this to mind, Frank!
Dave
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How many rail journeys of my youth I would love to repeat. Especially the steam train ones.
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John – if you love steam trains I suggest you see the photos (one of which is above) of the Asmara – Massaua mountain railroad in Eritrea. They are just magnificent.
http://www.markusworldwide.ch/Railways/Steam/Eritrea/Eritrea_01.htm
Regards
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