Scott Ivey

The girl in the rails
By; Tracy Nicolaus Batty
AKA Railroad Wife

Hoghead Willy and Conductor James
knew their way well around those freight trains
runnin for years down that same ol main line
but they never saw it comin & ya can't turn back time.

She came out of nowhere just a flash in the light
that's when James shouted out, Willy had her in sight
James threw the plug , Willy pulled hard on that whistle
but that night they were heavy and fast as a missile

She stood right In the tracks lookin straight at their faces
they knew if they hit her there'd be nothing but traces
of the white silky dress and her long golden hair
and the memory of her beauty as she bravely stood there

Then when all had seemed hopeless, they both saw a light
coming down from the sky, silvery white yet frighteningly bright
time simply stopped, through the squealing of brakes
they all three were still they saw tears on her face
as she lifted her arms in one last embrace

through the windshield the men watched as the girl disappeared
both sat there astonished for it was not what they'd feared
she seemed made of mist and by the time the train halted
James ran back a mile had his hope never faltered

and he wasn't surprised to find not a hair
from her delicate head for there was not one thing there
James fell to his knees and cried like a child
Willy called him by radio, sounding frantic and wild.

When they tied up next morning, not a word of it spoken
they'd heard rumors before of men shivering and broken
who'd seen the angel appearing and then lifted away
James and Willy once hardened had now learned to pray

to the girl made of mist, when they went out each night,
they both knew they were safe for they were held in her light.