Tracks
Front Matter
Poem
Preface
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Return to Contents

Wheels of Change

Walter N. Sinkinson, with permitted changes

They felled stark forests, navvied plains,
Bored mountains, bridged lake, ford, gill, gap;
Part-paid in lives our debt to trains;
They learned hard lesson through mishap.

The wild winds tore their building down
Gunpowder thundered, breached and slew;
But courage helped them reach the town;
From blood and sweat the Railroad grew.

'Gainst blood and sweat and urge supreme
Measure a People’s wealth and might.
Ambition gave substance to their dream:
The Wheels of Change to expidite.