Fog rolls over iron rails
Postcard catches cold beam light
You watch the signal sweep
Keeper knows this rhythm well
Your fingers trace the worn stamp edge
Ink bleeds blue on salt-stained card
Diesel horns cut morning mist
Steel wheels bite frozen track
Lamp oil smells like home again
Logbook pages marked in ink
Beam cuts through the yard's gray veil
You hold the light you hold the line
Signal through fog signal through fog
Faded card catches lamp glow
Iron yard drinks the white beam
You steer the ship you hold the course
Your thumb rubs salt from corner crease
Date stamp smudged by weather years
Switch points throw with metallic clang
Boxcars wait in ranked rows
Lamp oil smells like home again
Logbook pages marked in ink
Beam cuts through the yard's gray veil
You hold the light you hold the line
Signal through fog signal through fog
Faded card catches lamp glow
Iron yard drinks the white beam
You steer the ship you hold the course
Your eyes track sweep across the ties
Lens glass warm from flame inside
Freight breath clouds the crossing gates
Horn blast shakes the window pane
Storm passed pressure rising slow
Barometer climbs the brass scale
You trimmed the wick at midnight turn
Now dawn paints rust in gold and gray
Signal through fog signal through fog
Faded card catches lamp glow
Iron yard drinks the white beam
You steer the ship you hold the course
Your pocket holds the glass lens cloth
Brass key turns in tower door
Log entry visibility clear
Postcard filed in tin box drawer
Signal through fog signal through fog
Faded card catches lamp glow
Iron yard drinks the white beam
You steer the ship you hold the course
Fog lifts the beam still sweeps
Keeper watches keeper stays
