Lance leading Clean Train protest

My reflection on the Clean Train Coalition march as we took to the streets protesting the government’s plan to dramatically increase use of diesel for communter trains through west neighborhoods.

Human Train

Grey dawn/Tracksbeckon sojourners to the beginning of the line/Two feet touch the molded metal/Restless feet, eyes watching/Others will come.

We join/Strangers becoming collaborators/Adorned in bright blue in defiance of grey sky/Burning sweet grass, white feather/Smudging faces with sacred prayer blessing our journey/It shall not rain/It shall not rain/

We walk as one, for all our relations/Human train, movement of spirit/Linked by a common hope

Whistle, stop

Cash stands in song before the Bank/On Mount St. Dennis/Lyric, the first child to walk the line/We are singing/It shall not rain/It shall not rain/Human train, movement of spirit

Whistle, stop

Construction on Keele St./Catch a breath, pick up steam

Whistle, stop

Late morning busy street/Old station welcomes weary travelers/The platform tells the story the city has forgotten/This is the Junction/Today we remember, soon the old station will welcome trains again/Human train, movement of spirit/Feet multiply, we press on

Whistle, stop

Shattered windows reveal hollow factories/Abandoned yards of cracked concrete and wiry weeds/Lament/Polluted place and neglected neighbourhood/Wallace Bridge stands as monument to our disillusion/Minds convicted, hearts resolved/Our road is right, the journey is just/We press on

Whistle, stop

Feet shudder, halting brakes/The time is near, are the people ready?/Jesters and stiltwalkers corral the crowd/the curious converge, children gather, politicians jostle/the collaborators know what is coming/tracks are buckling against rising tide, a thousand strong/The time is now, the marchers churn their feet, raise the resounding cry/“Diesel no more – go electric!”/The train rushes in, distant neighbours joining hands/A great conspiracy, a city surprised by unity

Now together, we forge a new track/Behold a cleaner city on the horizon/Conductor shifts gears – all aboard!/We remember the white feather/Only now the rain comes

Whistle, stop

Strength in numbers, emboldened spirits prevail against the darkened sky/Marchers press on, voices must be pressed to paper/All our relations gather at the gates/Little hands, wrinkled hands, careful and care-free hands, every shade of earthly heritage/Trinity-Bellwoods the final stop/The drums mark the message heard/We now watch/And shall not be moved