(no subject)
The latest night I've had out for a long time. Made tea with church friends and veged with a video for a long time afterwards. So nice to do. I found this poem ages ago in our church newsletter and it brings back memories of grade eight (I think) English. I have to type it out for posterity's sake...
The Hell-Bound Train (William Booth)
Tom Gray lay down on a bar room floor
Having drunk so much he could drink no more
And he fell asleep with a troubled brain
And dreamt he rode in a Hell-Bound Train.
The engine red with blood was damp
And dimly lit with a brimstone lamp
An imp for fuel was shoveling bones
That roared and cracked with a thousand groans.
The boiler was full of lager beer
The devil himself was the engineer
The passengersmade such a motley crew
Of Atheist, Church-member, Gentile and Jew.
Rich men in broadcloth, beggars in rags
Handsome young ladies and withered old hags
Yellow and black men, red and white
All chained together, what a horrible sight!
Faster and faster the engine flew
Wilder and wilder the country grew
Brighter and brighter the lightning flashed
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were scorched from each quivering frame
And then in the distance they heard such a yell
"Ha ha!" croaked the devil, "we're nearing Hell!"
Then he capered about and danced with glee
As he jeered and sneered at their agony
"My faithful servants, you've done my work
And the devil can never a payday shirk -
"You've bullied the weak and robbed the poor
The hungry brother you've turned from the door
You've piled up gold where canker rusts
And given full vent to your fleshly lusts -
"You've paid your full fare, so I'll carry you through
For it's only right you should receive your due
And I'll land you safe in the lake of fire
For every servant is worthy of his hire -
"There my fiery imps will torment you forever
And all in vain you'll cry for a Saviour!"
Then Tom awoke with an agonised cry
With his clothes soaking wet and his hair standing high.
And he prayed as he'd never prayed before
To be saved from drink and the devil's power
And his crying and praying was not in vain
For he never more rode in that Hell-Bound Train.
The Hell-Bound Train (William Booth)
Tom Gray lay down on a bar room floor
Having drunk so much he could drink no more
And he fell asleep with a troubled brain
And dreamt he rode in a Hell-Bound Train.
The engine red with blood was damp
And dimly lit with a brimstone lamp
An imp for fuel was shoveling bones
That roared and cracked with a thousand groans.
The boiler was full of lager beer
The devil himself was the engineer
The passengersmade such a motley crew
Of Atheist, Church-member, Gentile and Jew.
Rich men in broadcloth, beggars in rags
Handsome young ladies and withered old hags
Yellow and black men, red and white
All chained together, what a horrible sight!
Faster and faster the engine flew
Wilder and wilder the country grew
Brighter and brighter the lightning flashed
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were scorched from each quivering frame
And then in the distance they heard such a yell
"Ha ha!" croaked the devil, "we're nearing Hell!"
Then he capered about and danced with glee
As he jeered and sneered at their agony
"My faithful servants, you've done my work
And the devil can never a payday shirk -
"You've bullied the weak and robbed the poor
The hungry brother you've turned from the door
You've piled up gold where canker rusts
And given full vent to your fleshly lusts -
"You've paid your full fare, so I'll carry you through
For it's only right you should receive your due
And I'll land you safe in the lake of fire
For every servant is worthy of his hire -
"There my fiery imps will torment you forever
And all in vain you'll cry for a Saviour!"
Then Tom awoke with an agonised cry
With his clothes soaking wet and his hair standing high.
And he prayed as he'd never prayed before
To be saved from drink and the devil's power
And his crying and praying was not in vain
For he never more rode in that Hell-Bound Train.