Pershore Station -John Betjeman Flashcards
Pershore Station -John Betjeman
The train at Pershore station was waiting that Sunday night
Gas light on the platform, in my carriage electric light,
Gas light on frosty evergreens, electric on Empire wood,
The Victorian world and the present in a moment’s neighbourhood.
There was no one about but a conscript who was saying good-bye to his love
On the windy weedy platform with the sprinkled stars above
When sudden the waiting stillness shook with the ancient spells
Of an older world than all our worlds in the sound of the Pershore bells.
They were ringing them down for Evensong in the lighted abbey near,
Sounds which had poured through apple boughs for seven centuries here.
With Guilt, Remorse, Eternity the void within me fills
And I thought of her left behind me in the Herefordshire hills.
I remembered her defencelessness as I made my heart a stone
Till she wove her self-protection round and left me on my own.
And plunged in a deep self pity I dreamed of another wife
And lusted for freckled faces and lived a separate life.
One word would have made her love me, one word would have made her turn
But the word I never murmured and now I am left to burn.
Evesham, Oxford and London. The carriage is new and smart.
I am cushioned and soft and heated with a deadweight in my heart.
Summary of the poem
This poem describes a train journey and the emotional turmoil of the narrator as he recalls a past relationship and the feelings of guilt and remorse associated with it.
One language device
The contrast between “Gas light on frosty evergreens” and “electric on Empire wood” highlights the juxtaposition of the past and present. The vivid imagery of “the windy weedy platform” and “the sound of the Pershore bells” enriches the scene with historical and emotional depth. The narrator’s feelings of “Guilt, Remorse, Eternity” convey profound emotional conflict.
Another language device
The imagery in “waited in the drizzle” and “teary and fixed” conveys a somber and emotional atmosphere. The metaphor of the “eastbound Leeds train flickered past / and ran you like a movie through its window-frames” poignantly captures the fleeting nature of the moment and the sense of separation.
One structure device
The poem consists of three quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme, which provides a rhythmic and structured feel, mirroring the regularity of train travel and the inevitability of parting.
Another structure device
The poem has a narrative flow, reflecting the passage of the train journey and the progression of the narrator’s thoughts and feelings. The descriptive passages interweave with the narrator’s introspective reflections, creating a layered emotional narrative.
Emotional Impact 1
The poem captures the bittersweet essence of saying goodbye, emphasizing the lingering memories of the loved one and the emotional weight of missed opportunities and changes over time.
Emotional Impact 2
The poem delves deeply into the narrator’s internal struggle with past decisions and their lasting impact. The regret of not saying a crucial word and the longing for a different life underscore the pain of separation and lost opportunities.
