westbound train.

the steamtrain tongue
it speaks to me as I sit and wonder still
just a solemn phrase as we go away
and head for the far off hills.

grow, shift, change:
watch the rail-riders
catch that westbound train.

through the axle turn,
and deep coal burn,
we continue on our climb,
edging ever closer:
to the once so distant sky.

grow, shift, change:
constant motion
speeding on the eastern plain.

soon we'll make it!
someday we will find
a home so grand:
they'll be no plans,
for tramps like you and I.

grow, shift, change:
we found the catch
of seconds kept
as the sun did fade away.

the landscape slide,
as the tracks click by:
bringing us towards
our ends.

grow, shift, change:
we never had it
always lost it
before the days could stay.

it's hard to make amends,
when the living was never free,
just some stray dog luck,
a friend who cooks,
and a guitar rambling saint.

grow, shift, change:
it burnt our throats
and singed our tongues
as the black cloud smoke
engulfed our souls.

rolling up our inadequacies
in paper built to burn
who were we to know back then:
that we all would have our turn.

grow, shift, change:
we can make it through
if we never lose
or if we catch
that westbound train.

so someday soon
i'll join with you,
loco larry, beargrease,
precher steve,
and we'll ride that train together,
until we finally reach the sea.