SIDETRACKED

When we go riding on the cars

   Along the country ways,

From out the rattling window panes

   Quite warily we gaze.

And as a station we approach

   We crane our necks to see

When lo! A freight lines either side

   And hides the scenery.

We hoped our trip would be relieved

   By seeing something new;

The ugly freight was lying there

   To spoil our every view.

No matter what the route we took,

   In coach or parlor car,

The same old freight was sided there

   The scenery to mar.

Through life we find it e’er the same,

   Upon the great highway;

We hope to see a brighter morn

   At each unfolding day.

But when we have our eyes affixed

   Upon some picture bright

A cloud, just like the sided freight,

   Obscures it from our sight.

And so it goes day after day,

   Our whole life journey through;

We look beyond the grimy panes

   To get a better view.

But this we know: the Heavenly road,

   On which we hope to ride,

Won’t have at every stopping place

   Long freight trains on the side.

                    JOE CONE

Dec. 14, ‘09

Ac. N.E.H.


       (handwritten version c 12 19 1908)