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Poetry


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The Last Train, Gone: A Conversation with Grandpa

By bwoz

05 February 2007

A bit long winded, just a story about trains. Please forgive the slang.

The place was Promontory
where they drove that golden spike,
where east joined west and a steel tone whistle
sounded right as rain for them workin' men
settin’ cedar ties in molten slag
until that rail ran coast to coast
And they gave 'er a name.

When it was comin' it took for 'ever boys, and when
It was done it was gone for good – never comin’ back.

All up and down the line little towns pop up
Just long enough to load the train
Then pack it in for another camp on up the line.
A sign o' the times back in ' 39.
Times 'er gone – never comin' back.

Everything locked up tight when the sun goes down
‘cuz mornin' comes damn quick on that powderline,
And a steady hand holds no gar' untee.
You miss your mark, boy, and you’re gone for good.
"So don't rush it," man says, "just pack 'er smooth and tight,
Then DUCK! and let 'er fly." HA!
A lot o' good men – never comin' back.

On the map she showed like a surgical scar
On the face of a proud young land.
State to state we could ride in high fashion up top
In the diner car; "Land sakes boys I'm ridin' high"
Through the dusk into the promised land – never comin' back
All them little towns down by the tracks.

And she took our sons to war back in forty-two,
slipped away into the night,
slick as glass, WHEWSHSHSHshsh
All them young boys packed inside
like mice in a giant snake's belly,
came home on the same line, most of 'em
Same as the ones who left, just different though.

All up and down that line,
wasn't a time when folks didn't talk 'bout trains;
LIVED for trains. Man says, "I saw U.P. on the side
Of a box car." and we says
"I saw U.P. on the other side, too." HA!
Union Pacific – never comin' back.

Here she comes now... listen! That steel tone whistle.
Three o'clock, right as rain.
H e r e s h e COMES, WHAM!
She’s in your bones, like rollin' dynamite
creasin' the hair down the back o' your neck.
Rattle the dead and shake up the night,
deliver this country to a new age, rockin' with the rhythm of the ties:
CLACKA -- CLACK CLACK
CLACKA -- CLACK CLACK
CLACKA -- CLACK CLACK
Now just lullabies for her babies, late for a plane.
Just some old stories 'bout livin' down by the tracks,
Just old times... and never comin' back.

Reviews

Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 5th February 2007

Part of me doesn't want to think that the railroads won't have their day again -- though, of course, it will never be the same. But who knows what will happen when we start to run out of fossil fuel?

I really liked this poem -- in particular, the stanza about the boys leaving on the trains 'like mice in a giant snake's belly.' And coming back 'same as the ones who left, just different, though.' I have tried to find something I don't like about this poem, but cannot. I will come back later and try to give you a more critical review.

Are you an Arlo Guthrie fan by any chance?

Arlo and Steve Goodman
Written by bwoz (125 comments posted) 5th February 2007

Thanks Witzl, glad you like this longish poem.

I do like Arlo Guthrie, and if you are referring to the song "City of New Orleans", which Arlo sang, it was written by one of the best folk song writters of the 20th century -- a guy by the name of Steve Goodman. I play his train song now and then at open mic venues around here. It always gets a good nod.

I wrote this poem about 15 years ago, partly in homage to Steve Goodman's song, but also as a bit of family history. All of my ancestors were either miners or railroaders -- quite often they worked in both at various times. I agree, doubt that the gold old days of trains will ever come back. Its a shame, really.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

BW

Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 25th February 2007

I've got miners in my background too, a few generations back. And my grandfather worked on the railroads just before the turn of the century. One of his claims to fames was meeting Chief Joseph.

Wasn't Steve Goodman also a co-author of 'You Never Even Call Me by My Name?' That is probably one of my favorite country and western songs -- along with 'City of New Orleans.'

Written by fellpony (1507 comments posted) 29th October 2007

Don't know how I missed this first time around. Another good one Bwoz. I bet it works best when spoken.

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