Category Archives: “famous last words”

GOING CANADIAN (NATIONAL)

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Image result for n scale gmd-1

Going Canadian,

The collector bought another engine…

From RAPIDO TRAINS

It only remains

Just when his bank’s charge comes forth!

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AfteR that special exhaust

Piping C.N. switchers have across…

their system-wide

Practice he spied,

If the model could be bought for minimal cost!

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Without signing up for EBAY,

He found the right price to pay…

EBAY will arrange

Canadian currency exchange,

And he’ll receive it in the mail, someday!

–

Jonathan Caswell

Photo of the N scale GMD-1 model courtesy RAPIDO TRAINS, found on Google images. His is an older release.

(VERY) EARLY MORNING PROGRESS…

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Couldn’t sleep—what a shame–

Had playtime to reclaim…

Three or more tries

Under night skies,

But with a clearer brain!

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He completed reconnecting

Both spur and runaround track connecting….

All rail joiners fit

He was done with it,

Couldn’t test with the power pack defecting!

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Musical power packs,

Changing over to  power tracks…

When he’s done

both layouts’ll run,

He’ll go on to more creative acts!

–

Jonathan Caswell

Google Image of a real train engine switching a spur track..

 

GINGER TABBIES STILL RULE!!!

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Screen saver—what does he choose…

A ginger tabby to vanquish his blues,…,

Can;t have any more

Cat scratches infect more,

But his memories–those he can use!

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Puss Cat, Ginger and Balim,

All names chosen at whim…

The first two

His wife and he knew,

But he grew up with With stubborn Balim!

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Balim Yalson Caswell,

The Yalson’s had to back in Turkey dwell…

Our family

Adopted Balie”,

Every year about their cat…we would tell!

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Balim, although gradually b lind,

Was as stubborn as his Caswell kind…

Went where he pleased

His last mouse wasn’t teased—

But ignored it–was it not on his mind?

–

Jonathan Caswell

Picture is representative of his  many ginger tabby cats!

 

DEFERRED MAINTENANCE

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Related image

GENESEE AND WYOMING bought,

PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER stock…

At crossings I see

New grass frequently,

Where once I saw only rock!

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Sadly I watch the downgrade,

Of physical plant improvements made…

It is a let down

Seeing grass newly grown,

Like this buyout wasn’t the best trade?-

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Less-used spurs look like this too,

A shock for this railfan true-blue…

Grass along the ties–

Most think it small-sized,

But what else will  they not do?

–

An opinion of the author–above image is an example of–not the real grassy track referred to–which is at the Hartford Street  crossing in North Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

A LAYOUT FOR CHRISTMAS…

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It’s not too early at all,

Better now than in the fall…

Scheme and plan

We know what ran,

For something new can we call?

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The simple circle’s a hit,

With one spur decorated…

I want TWO TRAINS—

And changing terrain—

Do you think my work is legit.?

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

PRAISE GOD MOST HIGH FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

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Praise to you, God Most High,

For hearing prayer on the fly…

And your delight

Being quiet in your Sight,

Bringing us into your Light.

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You would talk with us,

Yet we put up the fuss…

Ne’er slowing down

Nor coming around,

In ways that are not just!

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Walking with your children in gardens,

Seeing our eyes at Thee widen…

drying our tears

and calming our fears,

Joy at mutual abiding!

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We don’t model for kids,

the closeness and joy you give…

But stay away–

Asking others pray–

Misunderstanding God’s writ.

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Pray for me, said like Simon,*

The sorcerer on his own ladder climbing…

Unwilling to claim

Given to him in God’s name,

What Christ, without his help, did buy for him!

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–Jonathan Caswell

  •  Simon the Sorcerer…see  The Book of the Acts of the Apostles (or  simply…”ACTS”)  8:9-24.

HIS TRAIN LAYOUT IS “P.C.”

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His N scale model railway,

Unfinished to this day…

Is labeled P.C.

Not politically,

But “Procrastination Central”, he’d say!

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So much on it still to do,

Each project is almost half-through…

Keeps changing direction

On theme selection,

Rearranging things as if on cue

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HE THINKS…he’s nailed it down,

His scrap plastic pile’s quite a mound…

Rough kitbashing

Some parts go missing,

On which  he won’t expound!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

CHRONIC DEPRESSION VERSUS THE LORD

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(From the author’s notebook.  Written 4/14/16)

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Depression seen as chronic,

Folks judge moronic…

Why choose

And refuse

To be catatonic?

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Some have the crazy idea,

Behavior is willful and clear…

Always a choice

With inner voice,

Pointing the way to steer!

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“Just stop that,” is a farce,

Who gave you the right to parse…?

Some things are not

As easily shot,

Without making it worse!

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Why don’t you understand

Continuing to reprimand…

This creation fallen

Is appalling,

But the way things currently stand?

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The chronic depressed are cast,

Into a bullring vast…

One says, “OLE”

All you need to say

Is begone, and the sickness is past”!

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We’re often pushed aside,

Who will the “gutless”  abide…?

But Christ’s embrace

Filled with grace

Can heal all that’s inside!

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An Opinion Poem..based in part on the author’s personal experience.

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

ANTI-P.C. MODEL RAILROADING?

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He going back a few years

When people held fewer fears…

About burning coal

For energy goals,

When a coal train regularly appears!

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Not using behemoth power,

A giant producing huge watts-per-hour…

But a cool RS-1

To get  the job done,

Or a steam engine with cinder shower!

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Close down this plant—Why?

So you got a little smut in your eye…

Berry bushes poke through–

Gonna wipe out thorn bushes, too?

Expensive scrubbers can clean up the sky.

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Most of all–coal trains bring jobs,

Labor and wind farms at odds…

How many men

Does solar need attend,

Its labor needs at large?

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Moving coal cars is fun,

As models–not the real ones–

Although on my pike

I’ll do what I like,

But not with the same need of funds!

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–Jonathan Caswell

 

AN ORANGE AND BLACK TRICKLE

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The sight we fans did not want to see–

The orange and black/yellow scheme…

Has shown up in Worcester, Mass.,

This tide is coming in.

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Chocolate brown and red

Lettering in white…

Eventually will be swept away

But not yet overnight!

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Orange and black I do not hate–

It’s one of my favorite roads…

Born way out in New York State,

Hauling salt mine loads!

–

–Jonathan Caswell