.5. The Linesman Poem by David Threadgold

His boots crunch on the ballast
Where sleepers lay to rest
He walks the measured mile again
In his bright fluorescent vest

He checks the rails in tandem
Looks out for tell tale cracks
Averting most disasters
By maintaining healthy tracks

A hammer on his shoulder
As so many times before
To tap the wooden keys in tight
Still loose he taps some more

A spanner for the fish-plates
Where bolts are getting slack
If any nuts have fallen off
He’s sure to put them back

When linesmen walked a measure
Making sure that all was fine
A most important person
When he walked the railway line


© 2008 David Threadgold
Rambling Riddles & Rhymes