The Drifter Of Rails

by Jason E. Hodges

Hopping freights is a way of life few will ever know
Endless skies and endless rides all for the tramp to see

Lost in every emotion of the moment
Lost in a landscape canvas painted by drops from the sky

By rays from the sun

By wind from a blackened rain storm
Traveling through the back country

Traveling on twisting rail lines of steel

Alongside straw colored wheat fields

Waving slowly in the plains’ gentle breeze

Through tunnels carved out of mountain sides

By sweat, steel, and callused hands

Echoes call out softly

Echoes from workers of a time gone by

Making his way up the Pacific coast

A wide-eyed tramp looks into the darkest of nights

An eclipse of the moon drifts slowly in the starless sky

A red dusty glow surrounds its edge

Like an ember

Its dark center shadow is surrounded by a fiery red glow

Falling asleep to the gentle rock of the train

Watching the shadowed red dusty moon disappear from sight
Waking to see a sea of green blowing in the Oregon wind
A forest of ferns and towering trees

A back drop of natures design
The crisp morning air, damp and cool blows against his face

The train lets out a mighty roar

Then lumbers into the yard

Time to find a new train to ride

The Tramp, the Hobo, The Drifter Of Rails