Some hobo poetry

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I came across this and got a kick out of it. Thought I’d pass it on.

THE PENNSBURG Camp Fire

by Totem Pole Rik Palieri 2003

A young hobo, hopped off a box car, just outside of town,

and found a quiet little jungle where he could lay his bindle down.

He gathered some dry firewood, to brighten up the night,

but when he struck his match, he saw an awfully eery sight.

For the campfire glowed and sparkled with a brilliant rainbow flame

flickering and dancing like the headlight of a fast west bound train.

Then walking out of the fire’s cinders and through the smokey air,

came the ghosts of some old hoboes, he thought he’d met somewhere.

They came and shook his hand ,as all good hobos do

then offered up a spud or two and started boiling up a stew.

Their calm and friendly manners finally calmed the young Bo’s fright.

He asked if they could jungle up together and spend the lonesome night

“Each of us caught the Westbound”, one Bo said with a tear,

but we all come back to Pennsburg, if only once a year,

On the third week in September when fall is almost near,

we hobo out of heaven and jungle up right here.

You see this old hobo jungle is a mighty sacred spot,

where hobos came year after year and camped on this very lot.

It was one of the best hobo gatherings, that you could ever find,

where hobos were respected and townsfolk treated them oh so fine".

They all looked into the campfire for it was almost dawn,

then the Bo’s made up their packs and said, they’d be moving on.

Then there was a mighty whistle and the camp fire filled with steam,

and all the old hobos vanished, like it was all just a crazy dr

2

A Limerick:

Brave Dave fell under the wheels

it’s one of those unfortunate deals

We’ll laugh, sing, and cheer

while drinking our beer

then ask the online hobo how he feels.

3

One evening as the sun went down
and the jungle fire was burning
Down the track came a hobo hiking
and he said boys I’m not turning
I’m headin for a land that’s far away
beside the crystal fountains
So come with me we’ll go and see
the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
there’s a land that’s fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes
and you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars are all empty
and the sun shines every day
On the birds and the bees
and the cigarette trees
Where the lemonade springs
where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
all the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
and the hens lay soft boiled eggs
The farmer’s trees are full of fruit
and the barns are full of hay
Oh, I’m bound to go
where there ain’t no snow
Where the rain don’t fall
and the wind don’t blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
you never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
come a-trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
and the railroad bulls are blind
There’s a lake of stew
and of whiskey too
You can paddle all around 'em
in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
the jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again
as soon as you are in
There ain’t no short handled shovels,
no axes saws or picks
I’m a goin to stay
where you sleep all day
Where they hung the jerk
that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

I’ll see you all this coming fall
in the Big Rock Candy Mountains
[:D]

4

Man that place sounds sweet. Thanks Vic.