Not Adlestrop, but Purley

Introduction

This piece is in the realm of parody, rather than plagiarism.

Edward Thomas's poem Adlestrop has been parodied a number of times and this is my contribution. It follows the pattern of the original fairly closely, but records a much more mundane experience. The train made an unscheduled stop, apparently to drop off a railway employee, who no doubt had duties to perform at Purley. He was carrying a tool kit.

Not Adlestrop, but Purley

Yes, I remember Purley station -
Mainly because one afternoon
Of heat the express train drew up there
Untimetabled. It was July, not June

No steam hissed, for the train was electric.
One man left, but no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Purley - just a sign with the name.

And brick and concrete, asphalt too,
And also one or two tall trees,
But nothing of the countryside
Came wafting on a gentle breeze.

I did not hear a blackbird sing.
No doubt there were not any near;
All self-respecting birds would be
In Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire.