Steve Tranter’s Famine and Feast (Tara Turner) by GM Jon

It was a freezing day With snow on the line Icy winds blew hard No trains on time   The young man sitting In the railway buffet Opened his briefcase, sipped cappuccino coffee   At another table An old man in rags  Closed his old trench coat And rustled plastic bags   Arranging his clothes He placed them on a chair But then he glanced up And caught the young man’s stare   ‘Let me give you advice My privileged friend You’ve a lot to learn Before your journey’s end   Do you really think That through a fortunate birth You’ve got luck in your pocket And that you own this earth?   If you open your eyes Then you might see There's no real difference Between you and me’   Well, the young man’s train  Was announced just then He collected his papers  And picked up his pen   Two lives flashed before him Both famine and feast The elder gave him a wave Like a blessing from a priest   Now, from that day on He was not the same man He had a fresh human view And a different plan   He imagined his future With more introspection Because a mirror, one day Might show the old man’s reflection   Yes, he took the advice From his wise old friend He had so much to learn Before his journey’s end   That was the day He’ changed direction And he prayed to God He’d never see that reflection