A freight train whistle bestows a familiar greeting

Drifting from a bustling railway switching yard

At the busy intersection of two transcontinental lines

Next to a great plains college where a formative path was blazed

The calm and peaceful campus nurturing the mind

Providing reflective space for much needed meditation

Another plaintive blast, then another and another

Evoking learning memories with each wistful blare

Reflecting on life’s aspirations and lessons learned

Knowing that rail cars are going in different directions with each successive whistle

Rethinking the wisdom of life’s current path and,

Switching to a new direction.