Two Women, 1862; a Poem

A vivid tapestry of 1862 unfolds through the eyes of two women whose lives brush the same tumultuous war. One drifts across golden Ohio fields, her quiet presence echoing the steady rhythm of corn, wheat and river, while distant trains carry soldiers whose oaths stir both hope and dread. The poem paints her world in gentle, pastoral language that hints at the looming conflict without yet stepping into its chaos.

Across the continent, a rattling locomotive thrusts a motley crowd through the Appalachian night, its lantern casting fleeting glances on a sleeping traveler of striking beauty. When she awakens, her poise turns the cramped car into a fleeting sanctuary, drawing the hardened soldiers, a priest, a gambler and others into a shared, breath‑holding reverence. The piece captures the sudden, fragile moments of connection that emerge amid the relentless march of war, inviting listeners to linger on the delicate balance of beauty and danger that defines the era.