Off Track

         Off Track

The firemen slowed their furnace feeding
To let the train wind down from speeding
A safety measure self-defeating
While train and torn track rushed to meeting

Their every wise precaution failed
The passengers had long since bailed
The firemen and conductor paled
The train inevitably derailed

The conductor then with swimming vision
Awakened after the dread collision
Was frozen fast with indecision
For choices nightmarish in precision

Of how to face disastrous fact
To seek survivors on the track
Prepare the scene for media attack
Or walk away and not look back