BEASTLY TALES

SHAMSHUCKS’ EXPRESS

The Shamshucks’ Express ran between two counties,
A lifeline to local folk to support commercial bounties.
Specifically, between Pugwash and Kalamazoo.
Daily trips were scheduled, but anything would do.
A private line it was, and had been for years.
The Public Company had cancelled the service due to greed fears.
Yes, they were not reaping rich enough reward,
And so determined to cut with a sword.
A figurative sword, to be sure, but a cut never-the-less,
Leaving folk high-and-dry, a hell of a mess!

But in stepped Samuel Shamshuck, with a desire to drive trains,
He organized finance and volunteers, he was the “brains.”
And soon there materialized a regular service,
Running profitably, efficiently, no-one was nervous.
Tourists, the publicity had now attracted,
They hadn’t been there before the service was retracted.
The beaches of Pugwash and Kalamazoo were so nice,
Although, in winter, they were covered in ice!
But tourists still flocked to the Pugwash hot springs,
Determined to benefit from what that hot water brings.
They’d soak themselves until skin became wrinkly
Their faces too, became swollen and crinkly.
Then their bodies became blue as they rolled in the snow,
Pepped up by contrasting temperatures, way to go!

Elsie Bigenuff, was a regular at those hot springs.
She, being aware of health benefits a mineral bath brings.
Afterwards, before returning by train to Kalamazoo,
Culinary delights in Pugwash, she’d pursue.
These primarily took the most familiar form,
Of Cod and chips, and ice cream, these were the norm.
So it was, one day in that small town,
That she ran into one Cornelius Brown.
Corny and Elsie at once hit if off,
Elsie was a little common, Cornelius a Toff.
But the bloom of youth covered that fact,
And Elsie did admire how Corny did act.

Their relationship did blossom, only one problem,
Could potential hardship occur to rob them,
That is to say, rob them of bliss,
That’s how they did feel after their first kiss!
You see, Cornelius lived in Pugwash without much ado,
Whilst Elsie resided far away in Kalamazoo!
They’d relied on the Shamshucks’ Express to see them through,
Could this noble service of rail?
See them through winter, without fail?
The roads, for forty miles, were blocked by winter ice.
No other route was available, or would suffice.
So, it was all down to the Shamshucks’ Express,
To prevent them from getting into a big mess!
Samuel Shamshuck, being unaware of their dilemma,
Valiantly maintained service through landslide and tremor,
For there was one thing he indelibly knew,
His train carried Mail, and the Mail must always get through!
Cornelius heard of this, and he noticed without fail,
That he, too, was an important Male!
He said as much to Elsie, “Important Male must get through”
“Yes, through Wind, Sleet and Hail, nothing else will do!”
And so, through winter, their relationship did blossom,
Appreciative of any encouragement that life could toss ‘em!
Which, generally, in one’s life there’s not a lot allotted.
Even if, with another, one may be besotted!