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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TENTH AVENUE, NORTH BIRMINGHAM, by ALBERT A. ROSENTHAL
First Line: The illinois central run their tracks into the dawn
Last Line: Rattle into eternity ....
Subject(s): Birmingham, Alabama; Railroads; Railways; Trains
First Line: The illinois central run their tracks into the dawn
Last Line: Rattle into eternity ....
Subject(s): Birmingham, Alabama; Railroads; Railways; Trains
The Illinois Central run their tracks into the dawn,
The Central of Georgia rails ride out October sunset.
Evening comes here with russet whispers
To find the dancing shadows
Of "white-folk's" wash
Keeping time with the instalment gramophone.
Autumn comes here on flaming evenings
To burn the "nigger" shacks
Against the twilight's
Silver and gold-vermillion
While the gramophone croons
"Swing low, sweet chariot."
The russet evenings and the "white folk's" wash
The flaming autumn and the "nigger" shacks
Cut their shadow patterns
Into the souls of colored folks
Watching a load of "empties"
Rattle into eternity ....
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THE CAVEMAN ON THE TRAIN by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS
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