I MUST not be a minute late,
Nor yet too hasty be.
I have a load of human freight
Depending upon me.
I know that loving eyes tonight
Are all along the line,
Waiting to see them each alight--
These passengers of mine.
When at the finish of my run
I reach the hour of rest
I want to think on what I’ve done,
And know it was my best.
Of hearts that never felt a fear
I want to dream tonight,
Hearts that were sure the engineer
Would bring them through all right.
[Illustration of a head crowned with a wreath made from a plant. The
person is facing the viewer. A tree (perhaps the source for the wreath)
is shown next to the head.]