3rd Place Winner, November/December 2014 Contest: “Rusty Rails”

3rd Place
“Rusty Rails”
Marlin Cagle
Decatur, Alabama

Grass is growing through the gate that’s locked and chained
A barricade’s across the tracks, no sign of a train
The factory sits empty now with windows broken out
Only shadows linger, the jobs have gone south

My daddy and my granddaddy made their living here
Loading rail cars with steering gears
Gears that shipped cross country and wound up around the world
Now all that’s on the dock are sparrows and squirrels

(Chorus)

Negotiations over wages faltered and failed
Some stood for what they thought was right
The company closed its doors, homes went up for sale
And now the tracks tell the tale, with their RUSTY RAILS.
It’s time to quit reminiscing and get back on the road
And try and find this semi a decent paying load
With times so tough these days I’m barely hanging on
And pray my job don’t go the way the rails have gone

(Chorus)

And now the tracks tell the tale, with their RUSTY RAILS