That’s not a ‘correction’; it’s merely editing to get the form correct while preserving the spirit of the original. (I only recently learned about ‘pillow words’ so I apologize if I got the multiple senses of ‘east wind’ wrong…)
Not necessarily poetry as such, but the late Ed Blysard’s holiday classic of the railroader’s “Night Before Christmas” is probably on the forum somewhere.
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Maybe the most famous American poem about trains…
Travel
Edna St. Vincent Millay
1892 –1950
The railroad track is miles away,
And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day,
But I hear its whistle shrieking.
All night there isn’t a train goes by,
Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,
But I see its cinders red on the sky,
And hear its engine steaming.
My heart is warm with the friends I make,
And better friends I’ll not be knowing;
Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,
No matter where it’s going.
This poem is in the public domain.
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Many thanks, wjstix. That really is a fine poem and I may have to reconsider my choice.
When I was in school during the Jurassic period, Millay was loved by my (female) English teachers. I don’t think her poetry is popular with today’s teachers, though.
Reflecting on life in the Roaring 20’s Millay said:
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
It gives a lovely light!
Railroads and trains seem not to have inspired poets as much as artists. Who is the Ted Rose of railroad poetry?
If you want to pay for royalties, my favorite is Driving the Last Spike by Genesis:
Driving the Last Spike Lyrics
[Part I]
[Verse 1]
Leaving my family behind me
Not knowing what lay ahead
Waving goodbye, as I left them in tears
Remembering all we’d said
I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers
I asked Him for guidance and strength
But the simple beliefs of a simple man
Lay in His hands, and on my head, my head
[Verse 2]
I gave everything that they wanted
But still they wanted more
We sweat and we toiled, good men lost their lives
I don’t think they knew what for
I sold them my heart, I sold them my soul
I gave everything I had
Ah, but they couldn’t break my spirit
My dignity fought back, fight back
[Chorus]
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
Don’t you hear me?
Don’t you see?
[Bridge]
We worked in gangs for all we were worth
The young boys pulling the wagons
We were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth
It was then that it happened
No one knew how the cracks appeared
But as it fell they all disappeared
Stone fell like rain
[Chorus]
Ah, can an you hear me?
Can you see?
Don’t you hear me?
Can, can you breathe?
[Verse 3]
The smoke cleared, the dust it settled
No one knew how many had died
All around there were broken men
They’d said it was safe, they’d lied
You could hear the cries, you could smell our fear
But good fortune that day was mine
And it occurred to me that the heart of a good man
It seems is hard to find
[Chorus]
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
Don’t, don’t you hear me?
Don’t, don’t you see?
[Verse 4]
We worked, how we worked like the devil for our pay
Through the wind, through the snow and through the rain
Blasting, cutting through God’s country like a knife
With sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life
[Chorus]
But I can hear my childrens’ cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those I’ve left behind
Still ringing in my ears
Will I ever go back again?
Will I ever see her face again?
Well I’ll never forget the night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
[Post-Chorus]
We came from the North, we came from the South
With picks and with spades and a new kind of order
Showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They’ll never see the likes of us again
[Verse 5]
Driving the last spike, lifting and laying the track
With blistering hands, the sun burning your back
[Chorus]
But I can hear my childrens’ cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Oh the memories of those I’ve left behind
They’re still ringing in my ears
Well I’ll always remember that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
[Post-Chorus]
We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
Digging in darkness, and living with danger
Showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They’ll never see the likes of us again
[Outro]
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
Don’t, don’t you hear me?
Don’t, don’t you see?
I was caught
In the middle of a railroad track
I looked 'round
And I knew there was no turning back
My mind raced
And I thought, what could I do
And I knew
There was no help
No help from you
Sound of the drums
Beating in my heart
The thunder of guns
Tore me apart
You’ve been…Thunderstruck
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We learned this by heart at the Elizabeth Morrow School the same year it was written… even though up to now I never heard him sing it.
I find I can still sing it from memory, all this time later…
I like to see it lap the Miles
I like to see it lap the Miles -
And lick the Valleys up -
And stop to feed itself at Tanks -
And then - prodigious step
Around a Pile of Mountains -
And supercilious peer
In Shanties - by the sides of Roads -
And then a Quarry pare
To fit its sides
And crawl between
Complaining all the while
In horrid - hooting stanza -
Then chase itself down Hill -
And neigh like Boanerges -
Then - prompter than a Star
Stop - docile and omnipotent
At it’s own stable door -