Railroad Boy

Where have all the cabooses gone, Red slab sided, cupola, curved roof, Friendly stove pipe hat, every kids wish, Moveable tree house clickety-clacking Cozily rolling across America Snappy visored cap, brass buttons Blue coat, wind whipped leaning out One hand on the stanchion Waving an all clear lantern, nights shining arc Then crack, all along the line each Snapping to attention each car in its turn With a rattle rattle, huff and puff Away it roars into childhood. A memory of something important, Those years gone like borrowed money And now the dollars have all been spent But the secret stays in the heart An ancient fondness now focused A connection across the years Tears and a smile for that railroad boy