written for The China Doll



                                         Train of Mystery
                                                      Riley Lincoln, WPB Fla.
                                                                                                                August 24



   
    It shuddered and shook
     the ground, it quaked
    It scared me to death
     I staggered with each heartbeat

    Black smoke poured out
     It had an awful sound

    You could smell 
     the fire in the belly
    You could feel the terror
     in the ground
    You could hear the steam pound
     The smoke teared your eyes

    It finally moved
     A man hollered "all aboard"
    Railroad cars said goodbye
     The bell it rang
    The whistle it blew
    Women cried
     Dogs howled

    The moon turned blue
     Black smoke arose
    Strong men shook with fear
     Old mamas spilt their beer

    The engineer tipped his hat
     Again the whistle blew
    The skies were clear
     The rains fell down
    The wolves howled
     The stars disappeared
      The bunny rabbits went to higher ground

    The day turned to night
     The pretty birds took flight
    The sun turned cold
     The lawn chairs began to fold
    The black smoke 
     Poured from the stack
    Young men turned old
     Said they would never come back
    Birds avoided the black smoke
     For death was down the road
    
    The Fourth of July was just another good
     The horses for the Merry-go-Round
    Were never found
     The bull plates were lost
    Some say they were on hallowed ground
     The old steam engine is pulling a heavy load
    Fifty cars up Hocus-Pocus Road
     Some say this is the last trip
    Pull back on the throttle
     "Let her Rip"

    The train' gonna  take you
     Where only beautiful Butterflies fly
    Say hello to the Captain
     Say hello to the Queen
    Praise the Lord for this great machine
     We are all riding the black submarine
    Blow that whistle, ring that bell
     We are all riding the train
    To bring us all back
     And save us from Hell
    Hail to Mary
     Throw the ball long
    Only the good and the lucky
     Will stay above ground
    When the moon winks twice
     You will understand all the little mice

    The big black cat waits around the curve
     Thou shall not fear, the train will swerve
    Hundreds of buckets of water the train needs
     But watch out for what's hidden in the weed
    Hail, hail "Rock and Roll"
     Old dirty face never goes slow
    A beautiful trip down the tracks
     Hummingbirds chirping while on their backs
    The weeping willows won't weep today
     Because the cannonball is on its way
    Old Smokey pulls into the station at half-past nine
     Right on time
    The engineer tips his hat
     Has a glass of sweet tea
    And gives a lazy wave to me
     Then he says
    The next time we meet
     It will be on the high sea
    And here's a little advice from me to you
     Never pull the finger pointed at you
    By a man named "Sue"