Railway Manias

He had a name. Blew the whistle, waved off the train
Down the branch to Bedlam, sir
Nodding me over. I laughed and when I did that
Somehow floundered; spluttered, You must pull

Your savings out of the railways, for the wife and the girl
By this year's end - come 1846
This will be - all of it, my friend
Midland. As with Great Western

A little dazzled. Not an impermanent slump
I shook my head. The networks will stay
But what we've enjoyed - the fat, the euphoria
As of now, that falls gracelessly away

He considered. Thank you for your honesty
I'm placed in your debt. I suppose
I will repay one prophecy with another
God spoke

At me once. Yesterday when the sun was out
He took my hand and in the other
Swept up these intersecting lines creeping round the earth
And spoke of the earth

Soldered into a chorus
Cloying, baying, for audience
No verses. No construction
And that, there, would be our last punishment

The Lord told you this, did he? to which he shrugged
Like you'd confided, He had to quench a need
His, to gloat - but He didn't want anyone
To remember He had. So I had a heatstroke