The Creative Corner: An Old Gandy Passed Away

An old gandy passed away, and as I stood solemn at his grave,

I remembered how the railroad, had worked him like a---slave!

I recalled how he was treated, it was oft---like he was dirt!

He never missed a day of work, though his aching back would hurt.

And no one really gave a damn, how much steel this gandy laid,

Or the ties he hand dug in, and tamped tight with a spade.

Yes---as I began to reminisce, the age of steam meandered by,

Along with things this man endured, swinging pick and spiking tie.

How sweat profusely dripped, lifting rail and ties with tong.

It was a six-day workweek, the day---ten hours---long.

How he suffered in the winter, he wore but tattered clothes.

His hands were always numb; his feet felt like they were froze.

He swept the switch points clean, during the blizzard’s storm.

There was no such thing as wind chill, no one cared if he was warm.

Forced to eat his lunch in misery, in the snow and in the rain.

His railroad home---a box car, but he never did complain.

Oh---the switches he helped lay---he shoveled tons of ballast.

He often smelled of creosote, his hands were rough and callused.

He kept the track bolts tight, he did swing a spike maul hard,

As he labored on the extra gangs, from Spokane to Appleyard.

I doubt if even God could count, the spikes this man has driven,

Just so he could feed his family, eking out a meager livin’.

This old timer couldn’t sign his name, he could barely read.

But he never failed to pay his dues, he was a rare and special breed.

His customs, his religion, they were different, it was said.

He spoke with heavy accent, still, like mine, his blood flowed---red!

This old G.N. gandy was a brother, Italian, Filipino, Greek,

From Wenatchee or---Odessa, or perhaps from---Wilson Creek.

Yes, because of men like him, the track was smooth and straight.

Trains ran at their normal track speed, and they were seldom late.

St. Peter handed him a halo, he passed this life’s grueling test,

For the lowly gandy is, the kind of man---that God loves---best!