A sign says not that many KM’s to VANCOUVER.
So many, many more to TORONTO.
Why, oh why, am I on this train? The sound of that whistle just told me I GOT TO.
There’s something magic about riding the RAILS,
the sway of that ‘clickety-CLACK,
the wonder of it never FAILS.
The old days of Canada keep COMING BACK
There’s a C.N.R. steam engine on a side TRACK,
returning many a memory of YESTERDAY.
Emotions are not always that easy to HOLD BACK. I guess it’s just a price we all HAVE TO PAY.
The stainless steel Via Canadian is GLEAMING,
getting a wash at this famous LOCATION.
Young children and grandparents BEAMING.
There’s September fall colours and cold, crisp Rocky Mountain AIR.
A tall totem, plus the maple leaf fluttering in the BREEZE.
A few seniors taking the time a story or two to SHARE.
Digital cameras SILENTLY CLICKING
and passengers saying CHEESE.
There’s something magic about riding the rails, the sway of the clickety-clack, the wonder of it never FAILS.
The good old days of Canada keep coming BACK.
In the 1960s I used to photograph, publish, and distribute scenic postcards of B.C. With a beat up old Speed Graphic, roll back film holder, and 1955 Pontiac, it was an honour to try and record those special days, particularly on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. The real veterans, however, are the one’s who used 4 by five sheet film and made their whole careers focused on the really early days of our province. Thus to them, this song focused on Vancouver cards:
Using cameras like a Speed Graphic 4 by FIVE,
sheet film holders and GROUND GLASS,
making history come ALIVE.
They recorded how quickly time would PASS.
The hollow tree in STANLEY PARK,
Lumbermens Arch and that bridge called LION’S GATE.
Downtown, from the nine o’clock gun, reflecting in the DARK,
on a heavy tripod, the proper time exposure CONTEMPLATE.
They were Vancouver postcard PHOTOGRAPHERS,
in Beautiful B.C., scenic, historic BIOGRAPHERS,
of what used TO BE. Granville Street’s THEATRE ROW,
those CLASSIC NEON LIGHTS.
On foot or bike, across the Granville Street Bridge they would GO,
and, before that, the Cambie Street Bridge, exposing in colour or black and WHITES.
One of these days, you may discover old postcards of VANCOUVER
that bring back many a happy MEMORY,
while cleaning up the family room with that old dusty HOOVER.
Hiding under the sofa, reprising those special days in Beautiful B.C.
Remember those postcard PHOTOGRAPHERS,
still providing many a MEMORY,
scenic, historic and passionate BIOGRAPHERS
of what USED TO BE.