Beagles are braying to a southbound train
Are they entertained or do they croon with pain
Call them enchanted nonetheless for they howl be
it bright moonlight or pouring rain
Is this wailing or laughter , or early morning
banter
The song of the railroad plays before small towns all down
the silver line , trestles tapping time , the screech
of steel meeting steel , shorts taps of the whistle ,
the clap of the iron horse machinations , plowing
through lowland and hillside with naked aggression
Sing , piedmont hounds
Call the approach of the nighttime steam wagon , rustling wooden boxcars , creosote mingling with diesel , coal cars , lumber and ration