The crossing-
gates
went first,
and with them
the flashing
red
signal lights.
Then
the tracks,
after
a century
bolted
to the earth,
were gone.
And the
oak ties,
black
as soot,
were taken,
and the spikes
like
rusted carrots
were
taken out.
Finally,
the air
left town,
heavy
with a
hundred years
of bells.
