Classic Poem

Singing through the forests, rattling over ridges,
Shooting under arches, rumbling over bridges,
Whizzing through the mountains, buzzing o'er the vale--
Bless me! this is pleasant, riding on the rail!

Men of different stations, in the eye of Fame,
Here are very quickly coming to the same;
High and lowly people, birds of every feather,
On a common level, travelling together!

Gentlemen in shorts, looming very tall;
Gentlemen at large, talking very small;
Gentlemen in tights with a loose-ish mien;
Gentlemen in grey, looking rather green;

Gentlemen quite old, asking for the news;
Gentlemen in black, in a fit of blues;
Gentlemen in claret, sober as a vicar;
Gentlemen in tweed, dreadfully in liquor!

Stranger on the right, looking very sunny,
Obviously reading something rather funny.
Now the smiles are thicker--wonder what they mean?
Sure, he's got the Knickerbocker Magazine!

Stranger on the left, closing up his peepers;
Now he snores amain, like the seven sleepers;
At his feet a volume gives the explanation,
How the man grew stupid from "association!"

Ancient maiden lady anxiously remarks
That there must be peril 'mong so many sparks:
Roguish-looking fellow, turning to the stranger,
Says it's his opinion, she is out of danger!

Woman with her baby, sitting vis-a-vis;
Baby keeps a-squalling, woman looks at me;
Asks about the distance; says it's tiresome talking,
Noises of the cars are so very shocking!

Market woman, careful of the precious casket,
Knowing eggs are eggs, tightly holds her basket;
Feeling that a smash, if it came, would surely
Send her eggs to pot, rather prematurely.

Singing through the forests, rattling over ridges,
Shooting under arches, rumbling over bridges,
Whizzing through the mountains, buzzing o'er the vale--
Bless me! this is pleasant, riding on the rail!