The Trainman

By Sydney Peters

Paul was a gold man 

 A coal, glow and flow man

It was in the city then

He became a foreman

Paul was a light man

A bright, right and flight man

On the track were his eyes set 

The strongest man you ever met

Backwards down the ladder he’d climb

Punctual, as always, keep his time

For red, green and amber

Up and down he’d clamber

Rake and shake the train does make

Rake and cinder shake, shake, shake.

Yet tender doth his heart remain

Tender, precious, do not drain.

Railway lever tells the time

My time yours, your time mine.

Destination set, ne'er are we lost 

Reach there we will, at any cost

 As future holds the destiny of run  

A small step and the journeys begun

Travel life's journey, amid mirth or strife 

Paul works a train where speed is in rife

Rail travels become a ticket to joy 

Seating or berthed even standing enjoy

The click and the clack on silvery track 

Heartbeats and music cut through cacti and rock 

Golden the eventide, golden the dawn 

Twilight to twilight 

The whole day is yet gone.

Paul was a kind man 

A gentle on the mind man,

Paul was a fun man

A gentle grease and gun man. 

In football gun-boot jack man 

Horse and caravan man.

For a life that began with a ball peen;

Those days he was small, slim, agile and lean  

Tools handed down to him by his father 

At the bottom rung; life as a cleaner 

Cotton waste, oil, coal-ash and soot

Sweet smells the coal steam tooting toot toot 

Steam Motion about a locus 

On rails that gleamed was his focus.

With a long then short schoolboy notes

Tell me what the signal denotes 

Line clear token to throw and to take

Green flag now waving I am awake.

 I’m alive, aligned and alert 

I am stayed; I shall not desert.

The click and the clack sweet music it makes 

Let it play on; no need for the brakes 

Wheels move on steel; sweet melody 

Guard, station master firemen my crew 

We’re all one big family, travellers too 

Mid journey break; in the running room 

I’m sharing my tasty yum vindaloo.

I’m the driver of this beautiful engine 

Make sure you’re seated, settled in 

I drive the lifeline, hope is awaiting 

Forge on with power, nothing abating 

Plain, fields, forest, grasslands and graze

See the tracks I set ablaze 

Mirror waters, then rivers flow.

Technology delivers a mighty blow.

Beyond the bridge, the mighty blue.

The station awaits for me and for you,

A train is vital for businesses too. 

Platform, passengers, ticket and trolley 

Get ready all, no time for folly.

Oh wait dear reader be; t’would be sin not to mention 

The mighty marvellous WP

That gentle gracious giant 

Monstrous moving machine 

Easy to tame, this beloved beast 

Whose noble form I fancy, forever feast.

Then for home; with love in my heart,

My wife’s mine; Till death do us part.

Number line infinity; I’m off to eternity

 With my Saviour full and free

Leaving dull death and dead behind

Onto light, life and love, I climb.

By Sydney Peters