Notes About The Poem

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My Thunderous Wondrous Electric Toy Train

It was shiny and bright sitting under the tree.
There were other things there, but that's all I could see:
a Lionel toy train on a circular track!
The caboose was maroon and the engine was black.

And to top it all off on this fine Christmas day,
was an engineer's cap that I donned right away.
I had deadlines to make and my job couldn't shirk,
so I rolled up my sleeves, and went straight to my work.

Utilizing impressive construction techniques,
I made Tinker Toy tunnels through newspaper peaks.
With an engine, a caboose, and three railroad cars,
I would ride to the moon and haul back the stars!

It sputtered and sparkled and went round and around
with a clickety clackety sonorous sound,
and an oily ozony odoriferous tang:
my thunderous wondrous electric toy train!

And then Daddy and I had to go out for bread,
and to pick up the big Sunday paper he read.
We're just about home when there was flashing of red...
and the crossbars dipped down at the railroad ahead.

As the freight train slowed up, I could clearly divine
the big engineer's head with a cap just like mine!
We dismounted and yelled, and I signed him three yanks.
He gave me three toots - and I waved back my thanks.

With my engineer's cap and my blue overalls,
I was dressed in a style to give anyone pause!
I had grand places to go and marvels to see...
but Mommy had my breakfast all ready for me.

It sputtered and sparkled and went round and around
with a clickety clackety sonorous sound,
and an oily ozony odoriferous tang:
my thunderous wondrous electric toy train!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Soper Avatar
May 10, 2017 at 8:35 AM
Roy, Loved this!! great story telling with flow and form. Very much enjoyed the read...
A  Avatar
August 10, 2015 at 11:47 PM
Congratulations, Roy... SKAT
Inman Avatar
August 10, 2015 at 7:32 AM
"and an oily ozony odoriferous tang" perfectly described-you can taste the smell of the oily smoke from a toy train. Great write.
A. Sharma Avatar
August 10, 2015 at 1:11 AM
Wonderful images Roy, took me down the timeline to recall my own memories, Congrats on big win!~
Allison Avatar
August 9, 2015 at 5:19 PM
Dropping by again Roy it was delightful to read this again - my congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan x
Lawless Avatar
August 9, 2015 at 8:30 AM
Roy, I can still remember a train set on a christmas morning. Thanks for this wonderful memory filled write. Congrats on the win.
Lindsay Avatar
August 9, 2015 at 6:24 AM
Congrats Roy - a wonderful piece ;)
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 6, 2014 at 9:52 PM
Wonderful story Roy. It made me smile from start to finish and brought back beautiful memories. I love the picture. Congratulations on your first place win.
Haight Avatar
December 6, 2014 at 8:08 PM
Hi Roy, I really enjoyed your wonderful train poem. It brought back so many memories of my brother and my dad having so much fun with the Lionel trains on Christmas many years ago. Congratulations on your win! Excellent rhyme and rhythm! Sandra
Yvonne Avatar
December 6, 2014 at 5:38 PM
Love toy trains, loved your poem. Great title, marvelous story, excellent rhyming, nice smooth flow, Congratulations on your well deserved win!
May Avatar
December 6, 2014 at 4:09 PM
Great story....Congrats on your win
Mehta Avatar
December 6, 2014 at 8:25 AM
Awesome poem, congrats on the win
Lamoureux Avatar
December 6, 2014 at 8:08 AM
Fantastic, I also loved the picture. Congrats.
Johnson Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Beautiful childhood memories so well recorded. congratulations on your win. Love, Joyce
Allison Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 3:40 PM
dropping back with my congrats on your win Roy:-) hugs Jan xxx
Allison Avatar
April 8, 2014 at 6:23 PM
Beautifully written Roy. we have a train set in the attic - cost a fortune - son lost interest and its been gathering dust for years. We do have an awesome steam railway for about 15 miles on the Island, also horse drawn trams and an electric railway up the the summit of Snaefell mountain - very much a place for the railway enthusiast to visit. hugs Jan x
Sergi Avatar
April 6, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Hi Roy: I have written many poems that were personal to me only and I believe this to be a personal poem. Your love for your trains is an epitome of the beautiful wordage you used to describe the trains and their actions. Great write!
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