A SIGH FOR STEAM
Enginerooms aren't what they used to be,
Back in the days when I first went to sea.
Remember, remember those engines of old,
Open and shining; a joy to behold.
Huge, patient beasts ready and willing
To stretch and sigh and do man's bidding.
Nothing discordant or harsh on the ear,
A hiss of steam nearly all you could hear.
No thunderous din to beset your brain,
But soothing, peaceful harmonious refrain.
"Wheep" from the guides, a moan from the pump,
Nothing that made your nerves to jump.
Blued cylinder cladding and gleaming steel,
With polished brass to set the seal.
Cast columns painted buff or green,
More work of art than mere machine.
Handrails and floorplates all agleam,
Rubbed with blacklead to give a sheen.
Valvewheels all of an artist's hue
Red and brown and green and blue.
They're all gone now, those temples of steam,
Now engineers worship a different dream.
They bow down now to a different Maker,
Dokter Diesel and his bloody Bone-Breaker!
Enginerooms aren't what they used to be,
Back in the days when I first went to sea.
Remember, remember those engines of old,
Open and shining; a joy to behold.
Huge, patient beasts ready and willing
To stretch and sigh and do man's bidding.
Nothing discordant or harsh on the ear,
A hiss of steam nearly all you could hear.
No thunderous din to beset your brain,
But soothing, peaceful harmonious refrain.
"Wheep" from the guides, a moan from the pump,
Nothing that made your nerves to jump.
Blued cylinder cladding and gleaming steel,
With polished brass to set the seal.
Cast columns painted buff or green,
More work of art than mere machine.
Handrails and floorplates all agleam,
Rubbed with blacklead to give a sheen.
Valvewheels all of an artist's hue
Red and brown and green and blue.
They're all gone now, those temples of steam,
Now engineers worship a different dream.
They bow down now to a different Maker,
Dokter Diesel and his bloody Bone-Breaker!