Death by Steel

Oh how I love the smooth body, the smoke it exhales, the speed
The lines of the frame. The curves of the cab

My heart pumps ever faster as I gaze down
At the valley floor so far below.
But anything is worth the great giddiness

I experience at this moment.
The shriek of the whistle grows louder

Hysterical even.

I hear the clack-clack as it rushes onwards;
The application of the brakes adding screeching
The grating of metal against metal,
To the ever louder noises issuing
From this great beast of steel.
I close my eyes and extend my arms towards my love
Letting the beautiful sounds fill my ears.

My feet are planted firmly, at shoulders' width
On the planks and between the parallel lines of iron.
I reopen my eyes and admire the one thing I live for.
It grows bigger and it becomes possible to see
The wide eyes of the engineer.
The noise roars in my ears
My smile widens.

I am ready to become one with my true soulmate.
My palms turned inward, I await the ultimate embrace.
As all else is blocked from view,
I utter my final words,
Inaudible above the wondrous cacaphony of noises:
There is no better way.