When the byline was my line, I soared past the skyline
When my line was the bye-line, I boarded the Sioux Line ...
_______________________________________________
Note: The 'Sioux Line' was a railroad line that ran between
Illinois and Wisconsin in the 20th century. Its trains
were known as 'milk trains,' because they traveled
in the wee hours of the morning, and they stopped
at every stop... It used to take 14 hours to travel
from Wheeling, IL to Hayward, WI. (I did it twice.
What an experience!).
She became a symbols of American pride,
as she made her run down the tracks.
Those big drivers turning eight wheels
and smoke pouring from her stack.
Pulling cars from Chicago to Memphis,
on across that Delta Land,
running down to Baton Rouge and over to the Gulf Coast sands.
She saw the Yellow Dog run where the Southern Cross the Dog
ate shrimp in New Orleans and ribs from a Kansas City hog
She pulled corn out of Illinois and a load of wheat to sell
Rumble on down to Mississippi on the Monday Morning Rail
The engineer, with his hand on the whistle,
keeping the train on time.
His schedule became a badge of honor,
As he ran the railroad line.
He rolled through village and town
then turned the throttle loose,
A hundred tons of solid steel, a
hundred cars and a caboose.
She was called “the future of America,”
Before the diesel took her place.
She kept her date with destiny and lost
In the final race.
History has told the story of an era
that has come and gone,
A hundred years of running the rail,
the steam engine has sung her song.
My Lincoln Log Horn Limericks
I never was a railroad line or a road hog;
Should see what I read in a recent blog;
Be more direct;
Cause ripple effect;
Start making roads using a Lincoln Log.
On Lincoln Log idea instantly did pounce;
Not only would there be a blatant bounce,
For those educated,
Which way situated,
Would become extremely bigger once by once.
Then another tremendous thought on me fell;
Railroad system seemed much easier to sell,
After further inspection,
Best is same direction;
Presumed to lay down Lincoln Logs parallel.
James Thesarious Hilarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
I met him in the town's local cafe
A young adonis working the railroad line.
Long blonde hair, eyes so blue,
with a strong muscular body too.
He asked me to meet him the next day
Agreeing, this became our first date
A local fair was in town that day
Hand in hand we made our way.
Together we climbed a high hill
To watch the horse races run
He leaned over and kissed me long
My heart went flop and it was done.
Young hearts giving it a try
a few moments between a young girl and guy
That first kiss from this golden child
All thoughts began to run wild.
It ended at the fireworks that night
He was leaving with the morning light
The first kiss, remembered forever
The first date an extreme pleasure.
for Carol's contest
07/08/11
Phyl
John
William
Henry famed
steel driving man,
no
more
a myth-
leased out from
Virginia's
pen' -
died
on the
railroad line-
buried 'neath the
san'.
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