South Coast Poets Out Loud

Traveller Story by Moira Kirkwood

The South Coast Writers Centre Season 6 Episode 14

Moira Kirkwood reads her poem 'Traveller Story'


This poem appears in 34-37 Degrees South 2025 - An Anthology of Poetry from members of the South Coast Writers Centre. 


Fresh words brought to you by the South Coast Writers Centre

 

Traveller story by Moira Kirkwood

 

The 6am Sydney train hauls workers up from the coast: 

pillows, eye-masks, and rugs. Some corporate types 

with lit faces; some book-readers, too. Yes, still some 

books: see? Some old things stay.  

 

A couple travels together. Each day, as the train nears

Sutherland, they stand and exchange  three chaste 

pecks on the lips. The carriage is otherwise absolutely 

soundless.

One. 

Two. 

Three. 

He leaves, and she settles back down in the nest. 

Each morning I wait to hear it completed, that sweet 

ritual—yes, all is well—and see him on his blameless way.