.5. Good Old Rail Days Poem by David Threadgold

Back in the days when semaphore
Supremely ruled the rail
Lamp lads climbed to trim the lamps
Before their flame could fail

Each signal had its cables
With rods back to the box
Where signal men pull levers
After taking off their locks

With lots of bells and ringing
As he tapped the next train through
The kettle boils to fill his can
In time to make a brew

The last tap was his signal
Wind wheel and close the gate
It’s the early morning mail train
Bang on time and never late

Were lives then so much harder?
Did bosses seem to mean
Or was it so much better
When we had a good routine


© 2008 David Threadgold
Rambling Riddles & Rhymes