Railroading

[NativeSon5859]

Yet another one. I don't know, lately it seems like I just can't stop writing about trains. Oh well, to each his own. I'm going to send some of these to Mr. Gunn pretty soon just for kicks.

I wake up in the morning and what do I see?

Nothing but pain and misery on the TV.

Hop in the shower.

Jump in the car and go.

Life moves so fast.

I want to take it slow.

I want to kick it back a notch.

I want to take it all in.

I want to see this nation.

Where it’s going, where it has been.

I want to travel the country.

Like my ancestors of yore.

I want to conquer the Rockies.

The Sierras, and more.

I want to sit back and hear the whistle blow.

I want to see the head end ‘round the curve

And kick up all the snow.

I want to feel the rythym as

We cruise the road of steel.

I want savor every moment while enjoying a fine meal.

I want to lie down at night in my room and gaze

At all the stars above.

At the moon through the haze.

The faint sound of engine.

The rocking side to side.

There is no better way to travel.

It’s always a great ride.

I want to learn about this land.

As I sit high in the Dome.

I want to keep on going.

I don’t ever want to go home.

I want to talk to the people

Who have made the journey as well.

I want to remember all of this so I may

Have a grand story to tell.

For it’s a journey back in time.

Every time I step on a train.

I think about all the pioneers

Who did this not for the fame.

They built the railroads of America.

From sea to shining sea.

That forever changed this great land.

And cast a mighty spell on me.

So I will keep on riding the rails.

It’s so very important you see.

Thank you Amtrak for all of this.

The memories will never leave me.

 

[gswager]

Fantastic!

 

[Amtrak OBS Employee]

Hey nativeson, do you write these poems on your own? If so, you should look into having these published and copyrighted. Just a thought. I would seriously think about it if it were me. This is excellent! Have a good day. OBS.......

 

[NativeSon5859]

Hey there, yeah, these are all original works (wth the excpetion of the City of New Orleans one, which I based on the song by Steve Goodman). I've never really thought about having them copyrighted but I suppose it'd be a good idea. Thanks for the advice!

 

[jccollins]

I agree with OBS. As you keep writing you might publish them as a book of Amtrak LD train poems, each reflective of the land they cross and the service they provide. You definitely have a great talent. I love reading these!

 

[AmtrakWPK]

As an author under u.s. law you automatically have a copyright in whatever you have created, as of the moment it is created. However, in order to enforce it you would need to register the work with the copyright office. The forms are available online. I would suggest, though, that you put "Copyright (insert year of first creation for that work) (Your Name)" at the bottom of each work. That lets folks know that it is a work in which a copyright is being asserted, when that copyright runs from, and who the copyright holder is. You really should do that, since they really are very good.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Man, you have a genuine talent for this----please do put it to some kind of good use.

Your thoughts in poetry are what the rest of us think in prose.

I am printing this out, to take home and enjoy it at my leisure. (I usually just do that with trip reports, so there!!)