Sitting, in anticipation, down at the old age station.
Waiting for the trains to come and go.
Sitting, and watching the show.
The trains roll by me on track number 5.
I'm sitting in a section marked “Still alive”.
People are pouring out of a door, heading over to section 4.
It’s marked, “For those who ain’t here no more.”
I thought, “I ought to blow this joint.”
Section 4 had made its point.
Suddenly a financier comes over to tell me
That my credit checks and I’m OK.
Looking at a sign that says “Cash & Carry”
Reminds me of a time I remembered once
and forgot more times than is necessary.
The way I saw it, somebody wanted me to have a ticket.
I was standing on that platform lighting a big cigar.
When up rolled a well dressed ticket man
in a decked out railroad car.
He said to me, “I’d like to see, what track your ticket is for.”
He took my ticket marked #5 and handed me a #4.
Then he said, "You had better get movin’.
See that you’re on time.”
He took that stogie out of my mouth and rambled on down the line.
I said to a passing vendor, “I’d like to buy a pie.”
He stopped , he nodded seriously, and told me,
“The price is high.”
I then asked him, “Is your price just?”
He mentioned something about upper crust.
Then walked on down the tracks yelling something about
“Ice cream for the masses! Pie for the upper classes!”
I thought I’d hail a taxi to take me away from here.
Stopping a passing cabbie, I shouted in his ear,
“If you drive me to an exit I will pay you double fare.”
He said he unloaded at Station 4, and he could drop me there.
I said, “No thanks.” He replied “No thanks, just rides.
But you must still pay the fare.”
I told him I’d walk and handed him a dollar.
I said, “Keep the change.” Took out my harp and played
“Home On The Range.”
A man walked up to me and asked my name.
“Seeing as how we dress the same.”
He wanted to borrow it while he robbed a few banks.
He said, “I’ll return it soon. With many a thanks.”
I told him, “I can’t remember. Haven’t been able to since
Last December. I’ll give you my ticket. It’s good for today.”
He replied, “ I was hoping that maybe you’d say,
That you needed a ticket to travel today. I have one for sale.
I’ll sell it to you.”
I tipped him my hat and bid him “Adieu.”~Jay Olson
