Later Poems of Alexander Anderson "Surfaceman": Edited with a Biographical Sketch, by Alexander Brown: A New Edition |
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“DREW THE WRONG LEVER!” |
 | Later Poems of Alexander Anderson |  |
“DREW THE WRONG LEVER!”
This was what the pointsman said,
With both hands at his throbbing head:—
With both hands at his throbbing head:—
“I drew the wrong lever standing here
And the danger signals stood at clear;
And the danger signals stood at clear;
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“But before I could draw it back again
On came the fast express, and then—
On came the fast express, and then—
“There came a roar and a crash that shook
This cabin-floor, but I could not look
This cabin-floor, but I could not look
“At the wreck, for I knew the dead would peer
With strange dull eyes at their murderer here.”
With strange dull eyes at their murderer here.”
“Drew the wrong lever?” “Yes, I say!
Go, tell my wife, and—take me away!”
Go, tell my wife, and—take me away!”
That was what the pointsman said,
With both hands at his throbbing head.
With both hands at his throbbing head.
O ye of this nineteenth century time,
Who hold low dividends as a crime,
Who hold low dividends as a crime,
Listen. So long as a twelve-hours' strain
Rests like a load of lead on the brain,
Rests like a load of lead on the brain,
With its ringing of bells and rolling of wheels,
Drawing of levers until one feels
Drawing of levers until one feels
The hands grow numb with a nerveless touch,
And the handles shake and slip in the clutch,
And the handles shake and slip in the clutch,
So long will ye have pointsmen to say—
“Drew the wrong lever! take me away!”
“Drew the wrong lever! take me away!”
| Later Poems of Alexander Anderson | |