Copyright Notice

Copyright: Fred Robel, and Fritz365 2010-2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Fred Robel and Fritz365 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Friday, December 2, 2011

#336 Twentieth Century Limited


The well oiled joints
Creak their evening sound
Steam hissing from seals
Water dripping on the ground
Another scoop of coal
Gets tossed into the firebox
Pushed prodded and leveled
The fireman's eyes quick as a fox

No hotspots
No coldspots
Just like Goldilock's third try
It's just right

Gloved hands grasp controls
Brassy and hot from the heat
Brake released
Throttle eased slow and neat
A pro is at the helm
Slowly things are gathered up
Not a single drop
Will spill from any crystal cup

No jerking
No chattering
Just like Goldilock's third try
It's just right

Jacket brushed off
Shoes polished brightly
Hat on straight as a level
The conductor makes his way
Taking tickets and making notes
Checking that all is working well
Not a concern on his face
So professional none could tell

Appearance just so
Mannerism of a pro
Just like Goldilock's third try
It's just right

Thundering through the night
The Twentieth Century Limited
Makes fast headway towards Chicago
Headlight cutting the darkness
Whistle screaming to clear the way
The mainline rails shiny with use
A metal carpet upon which to glide
By early morning she'll be in the station
But for now man, what a ride

It's a bygone era
Metal steam velvet luxury
And like Goldilock's third try
It's just right

No comments:

Post a Comment