WHAT SAYS “NEW ENGLAND” ?

My model layout wanders it seems

Away from cherished themes…

What for you

Says “New England” too,

Beyond operational schemes?

–

 Does NISSEN BREAD,

MOXIE, barns red,

SPAGS and stores

With “colonial” decors,

Monuments to Revolutionary dead?

–

Dairies and granite quarries

In earlier days held stories…

Ice cream and views

Along the Turnpike count too,

And whaling ship stories!

–

Broad “a’s” in speech,

A Kennedy’s reach…

Where Plymouth Rock stays

And Sturbridge Village ways

Are preserved to history teach!

–

So for my small train set,

What industries are best…

Beverages and rock salt

Metals, food stuffs sought,

And historic touristy nests?

–

Gravel still travels by train,

Lumber and minerals same…

Environmental ire

Has dampened coal fired

Power plants, but garbage still flames!

–

A water-powered mill

And museum of trains fit the bill…

For small excursions

Of rich incursions into filling the local till!

–

Do you think I’ll have enough room,

I figure some things will die soon…

New England gives

And takes to live,

But survival cannot be assumed!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

SUDDEN KNOWLEDGE

SUDDEN KNOWLEDGE…!

–

Finished his drive into work,

Shuddering at his desk…

Of his snowy commutes

This was one of his best.

–

Heavy traffic and slushy highways

He better time by far…

Not fear-laden as other times,

Driving this newer car!

–

CHEVY IMPALAS he’d trusted before,

The SATURN turned out rather small…

Other than his normal watchfulness

He hadn’t  worried at all.

–

–Jonathan Caswell

HE DAYDREAMS…

HE DAYDREAMS…ABOUT YOU!

–

He’ll neer say directly

But he dreams of you…

Very introspective,

He dreams of you in blue!

–

Green velvet brings out your eyes,

Pencil skirts would be great….

If help is needed to find a size

He’d gladly participate.

–

Day dreams go only so far

Exciting although they be…

You are the height of his daydreams

Even if you he’ll never see!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

HIGHER SPEED RAIL

HIGHER SPEED RAIL

(To  tune of “THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS”)

–

Been working on the N scale

Whenever I’ve found time,

Rebuilding older trackage

So electrics will work fine…

Putting in curved turnouts

Simulating former speed,

My truncated mainline

Once hosted iron steeds!

–

The story goes that this was once

A high-speed mainline,

Alas, this part of the railroad is

In serious decline…

A few banked curves remain to

Remind us what once was,

The rest of the roadbed

Like that economy, went bust.

–

But renewing hope is out there

My imaginary line,

Hosts a  tourist train

Which looks like it does fine…

A collection of Rail Diesel Cars–

Steam engines have a few–

An array of passenger train cars,

Restoration still to do!

–

When rebuilding’s finished

(It’s going to run this time),

They’ll have a ceremony

So get yourself in line…

Cooking for a grand shindig

The restaurants in town,

Will serve the finest dishes

With MOXIE passed around!

They’ll serve their finest cuisine

So chug that MOXIE down!!!!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

–

CHANGING TREE TANKA

CHANGING TREE TANKA

–

Colors start to pop,

Trees shut down their leaves’ supply…

Green leaves turn colors:

Morphology is working

Just the same in ev’ry year!

–J.E.C.

–

People come from far

And near…”peeping” foliage…

Brighter is better:

Bus loads come en mass to shop.

Local business harvests crops!

–J.E.C.

–

A final push all

Benefit from folderol…

Festivals light skies:

Candied apples and brown bread

Folks ready for winter dead.

–J.E.C.

–

Railroad excursions,

Northeast woodland incursions…

Train cars filled with joy:

Steam or diesel pull the trains,

Nostalgic commerce makes gains!

–Jonathan Caswell

FORD FOCUS-POCUS

FORD FOCUS-POCUS

–

A Ford Focus to rent,

It’s timing was heaven-sent…

Had to park,

Find things in the dark,

Like where was the headlight locus?

–

Confirmed things in daytime,

Some lights had no reason or rhyme…

Dome reading lamps

Gave me cramps,

Keeping them on was a crime!

–

Took the car back thee next day—

Maybe the dealer knew the way..

.It was connected

To the dash light switch detected,

The dealer knew what buttons to play.

–

–Jonathan Caswell

SEVEN REASONS (FROM MSN)

SEVEN REASONS

(FROM MSN.)

–

Seven reasons to keep cats,

(MSN would bring us stats!)…

Intelligent, yes!

In fancy fur dressed,

Today’s video digest loves cats!

–

We cat lovers already know,

Cat wash between every gtoe…

If a cat is well-groomed

Good health is assumed,

If not, the cat lets us know!

–

Cats can be silly enough

To not need costumes and stuff…

But some can learn

If their trust is earned,

To put on a lacy ruff.

–

Seven reasons said,

Too many to keep in the head…

But we leep a torch*

For one on our porch,

We won’t get a dog instead!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

* keep a torch…hold a torch for…keeping hopes of finding, generally in a romantic context, or for some highly prized idea or person (or cat)