Twisted Tracks

The pre-dawn world was slumbering peacefully
outside the dreams of the impoverished neighbor,
trying so hard to hold onto their hope
in the middle such poor housing and limited employment.

No one could have imagined
hell would visit that morning
when a train derailed on the railroad tracks
that ran along the edge of the houses.

Its one car containing a very volatile chemical,
when it ran off the rail
the explosion was so incredible intense,
blowing glass out of windows a mile away.

But that gas was lethal that rose from the wreckage
only the kids coming out of their homes,
still half asleep and covered in wounds
from the shatter glass
had no idea the poison they were inhaling.

Was horrible enough between the screaming and confusion,
babies in mother’s arms crying constantly,
yet when some started choking and collapsed on the ground
they had no help arriving
since the fire trucks were racing off to the train.

In all that terrible tragedy,
life was swinging barely by a thread,
ambulances finally summon,
paramedics rushing to help,
their medical help came too late for some,
fate the sad ruler of the disaster
where one child was saved
while another died from the air.

Oh the news conveyed the details
pictures included of corpses and damaged homes,
still it couldn’t capture the pain
the stench of the vile aromas in the air
nor the agonized eyes of those paramedics
who had to watch death claim some young life
as they tried so hard to help.

No one took the picture
of the grimaced fireman carrying that dead child
or did they show the tear at the corner of his eye
it was lost in important
because the fire, smoke and ruins
were treated as more photo newsworthy to the editor.