Suitcase full of wishes - observing a down and out at a train station in Germany

A suitcase full of wishes

I saw the wanderer at the railway station
Sitting in the buffet drinking imitation coffee
It was close to midnight he had a sleepy face on
And an old suitcase carrying wishes

I pretended to read my paper
He pretended not to notice
A thousand words were spoken
Neither of us said a word

Am I like you or are you like me
Did you toss a coin to your destiny
Were you in love or too scared to be
How big is the mountain left behind

The overnight train is creeping in
There’s no one stepping off
I watch as he stumbles on board
He’s a picture that turns you soft

As daydreamers sleep whilst others keep
The clock from freezing still
I wonder how many years are left in him
Maybe he has yet to fill

That suitcase with more wishes
That are not broken
Or in need of repair
The train departs with tired limbs

Into the night of fogbound air

© SJ2009