MODELING MEMORIES

His memories of New England various,

Were by and large vicarious…

Mostly pictures he saw

with interest and awe,

His chances of a visit–hilarious!

–

Point of fact he was too young,

Couldn’t drive himself even some…

The eight-hour ride

Once a summer left wide,

Window for relevant magazines to come!

–

Still his interest grew,

Past the time when he knew…

This paint scheme was gone,

these ALCOs moved on.

But the history he wanted to view.

–

Found an N scale engine thus,

Painted just like this—a plus–

To re-enact

Historical fact,

Without too much fuss!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

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

JUSTIFYING MY “0-6-2”

An N scale “2-6-2”,

The lead set of wheels he blew…

Pictured once

An engine thus,

Converted to an “0-6-2.”

–

Most steam engines of this type,

In foreign fields are ripe…

In the U.S.

Mostly tank engines are left,

Them with tenders as hard to find as snipe!

–

Some may have come from Birmingham,

Alabama, a modified plan…

No evidence there—

Or up in the air—

The Internet doesn’t do well with “rare”.

–

He thinks Indiana coal fields,

Was where a real engine congealed…

Now he cannot find

The photo in mind,

Not finding a prototype, his mind reels!

–

Worse yet, he’s lost his model,

Was it sold or just took a toddle…

Somewhere below

All the other stuff so,

His research continues in high throttle!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

Google Image of a live steam model of a European designed 0-6-2 + tender,

produced by ROUNDHOUSE, makers of small scale live steam models.

ANYBODY LISTENING?

A tartan pencil skirt,

Is any out there alert…

Nice to see

Fashionably,

I remember a teacher so girt.

–

While strict, she had her charm,

Frequent knits to stay warm…

Knee-length hems

I considered gems,

A high-pitched voice when in alarm!

–

For a Junior High School boy,

Her outfits were sources of joy…

Modest, severe,

But oh what a year,

With some imagination…oh boy!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

STRANGE DREAMING

SOME STRANGE DREAMING!

–

Last night I did strange dreaming,

I’d done too many posts,

Burying my own works

Somewhere along the coast…

I could hear them from a distance

Above the ocean roar,

But I have surely done this

Many times before!

–

Oh…it’s practice not just dreaming

It’s very sad but true,

When I cannot keep up my end

I post more of “you”…

Been known to keep on burying

My own work the most,

Sometimes I think it is you-all

That I want to toast…

Sometimes I think it is you-all

That I prefer to toast!

–

😀

–

–Jonathan Caswell

(A parody of THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS…with good intent,)

PERMANENT SLAVE CLASS

PERMANENT SLAVE CLASS

(An economic opinion)

–

Raising the Minimum wage?

The “Progressive’s” constant rage…

You will not progress

Because of largess,

The Liberals have you caged!

–

Do you want to do this for life?

Letting those in power knife…

Your improvement

Of yourself–that went–

You’re being kept down for their strife!

–

Why is a President proud,

Of increased violent crowds?

While he plays

Golf most days,

Partying often and loud?

–

It’s because he basks in power,

Liberal prospects tower…

Deceive you they will

And send you the bill,

And if you question–glower!

–

I really wish I could side

On the other political divide…

But conservatives too

Want goodies from you,

Watching their vowed principles slide!

–

Opportunities are out there,

Be real–stop beating the air–

Striving break free

Of given slavery,

If you won’t save yourself—who really cares?

–

Lucky to get a full-time, TAKE IT,

Work really hard to make it…

Caught at the bottom

Prospects are rotten,

Your human dignity–RETAKE IT!!!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

(An opinion piece)

CHOSEN BY GOD–NOW GROW!

CHOSEN BY GOD–NOW GROW!

(Ephesians 1: 1-6; 15-23)

–

Open my eyes, oh Lord Most High,

That I see and comprehend…

All the Spirit  found in Thy Word–

The Wisdom that has no end.

–

Brothers and sisters praying for me,

Uplifting me through prayer…

That I may see and practice–

Avoiding demonic snare!

–

Shepherd and under-shepherd both,

Ply Christ Jesus’ troth,

His Body–His Bride–

The Church might abide

In the mind of Christ with growth.

–

Strengthen then your resolve,

To ask Spirit’s help to see…

All God’s wonder, power and mercy

And with the same, treating me!

–

If forceful men and women

Can hoodwink the American news crowd…

And not challenged for their deception,

We humble ourselves–not Proud.

–

If they can’t see through veiling,

How then can we…

Except humble asking for wisdom

From our Father God in eternity?

–

If only…the Christians would rise up–

If only they believed for sure…

That Christ, God’s Son, gave us Power

In His Spirit to do and endure!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

HARD-TO-HEAR HAIKU

HARD-TO-HEAR HAIKU

(Adult Topic)

–

Become impotent

His fading manhood laments…

But what is inside?

-JEC

–

Little feeling left,

No place left to vent the ache…

Must thinking change, too?

–JEC

–

Engorgement all gone,

Being faithful accepts lack…

No one left to love.

–JEC

–

How to love without?

Can a man still be a man”’

His woman knows that!

–JEC

–

Appreciates form,

Less likely liquid lusting…

Why keep the old ways?

–JEC

–

Is safer this way…

For all women that he sees,

Much less threatening!

–JEC

Power lust remains,

That…no non-phallic can cure…

Bad apples near tree.

–

–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