I like to see it lap the miles,

I like to see it lap the miles,
And lick the valleys up,
And stop to feed itself at tanks;
And then, prodigious, step

Around a pile of mountains,
And, supercilious, peer
In shanties by the sides of roads;
And then a quarry pare

To fit its sides, and crawl between,
Complaining all the while
In horrid, hooting stanza;
Then chase itself down hill

And neigh like Boanerges;
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop–docile and omnipotent–
At its own stable door.

Emily Dickinson

Steam locomotive

I like to see it travel the miles,
And run about the valleys,
And stop to drink water at tanks;
And then step amazingly

Around a group of mountains,
And inspect haughtily
In huts by the sides of roads;
And then cut a tunnel

To fit its sides, and crawl between,
Grumbling all the while
In horrid, yelling noise;
Then runs down hill

And shriek like Boanerges;
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop–obedient and powerful–
At its own stable door.

* Boanerges: a name signifying sons of thunder, given by Jesus to the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, probably on account of their loud voice. (Mark 3:17)