Travel - A poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay - Travel

The railroad track is miles away, 
    And the day is loud with voices speaking, 
Yet there isn't a train goes by all day 
    But I hear its whistle shrieking.

All night there isn't a train goes by, 
    Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming, 
But I see its cinders red on the sky, 
    And hear its engine steaming.

My heart is warm with friends I make, 
    And better friends I'll not be knowing; 
Yet there isn't a train I'd rather take, 
    No matter where it's going.

Added: on September 26th, 2005 at 3:05 PM | Viewed: 8535 times | Comments and analysis of Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay Comments (6)

Travel - Comments and Information
Poet: Edna St. Vincent Millay Poem: Travel Comment 6 of 6, added on April 2nd, 2007 at 8:16 PM. I read this poem as adventurous, like she was wanting to get out and she would go anywhere the train took her Jean from United States Comment 5 of 6, added on September 26th, 2005 at 3:31 PM. One further comment: When my wife and I moved to St. Louis from Oberlin so that I could do grad. work in Political Science at Washington University I found an apartment at 5877 Nina Place, St. Louis 12 (pre-zipcode). The mainline of the Wabash ran in a cutting right behind our apartment. I could watch many great trains, including The Wabash Cannonball and The Detroit Limited. We used both trains to get home to Michigan. We got off at Adrian. But enough! Millay again for sure. Robert C. Davey from United States Comment 4 of 6, added on September 26th, 2005 at 3:05 PM. The mainline of the Michigan Central ran right back of my high school. Every school day I heard The Wolverine (#17) go to Chicago from New York, The Michigan (#355) go to Chicago from Detroit. About the time school dismissed The New York Special (#44) went by from Chicago to New York. You can hear that train called out in Hitchcock's "North By Northwest." We cheered when we heard "Jackson" at the Michigan Theatre in the old hometown (where we still live). So, I like the poem because it's about friends and trains and wishing I were on my way to the Windy City rather than in Chemistry Class. One can get rather too deep about literature! I am posting this from Houston, TX. I came here on what's left of The Wolverine service and on The Texas Eagle (bus from Longview to Houston). We live in degraded times! No cinders, no steam, and a BUS to finish the journey. Good grief! Robert C. Davey from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Travel, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Edna St. Vincent Millay Poem: Travel Last read: Jul 25 2008, 4:49AM Viewed 8535 times. Added on September 26th, 2005 at 3:05 PM.

Millay Info
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