he slowly raised the trembling hand gently brushed the silver strand of hair from his wrinkled brow lips that used to talk so free the eyes that used to beckon me were silent now he listens to a passing train gives into an old familiar pain familiar pain they retired him twenty years ago gave him a watch made of gold and took his train his woman s name was margaret he loved her but she went away and left his heart undone he called this train the diplomat she s the only other lady that he ever loved some forty years he made the steam from memphis down to new orleans but now he s off the line and the closest that he ever gets margaret or the diplomat is in his mind he said take me to the station the diplomat is bringing margaret home can t you hear that whistle blowing they both know i ve been alone for much too long let s not keep them waiting we ll talk about the good times later on right now take me to the station the diplomat is bringing margaret home they say he talks crazy when he sees the passing train or when he hears margaret s name but the only things he ever loved he lost before he loved enough he s not to blame so who s to say he s right or wrong reaching out and hanging on to dreams he can t let go he threw the watch of gold away but keeps tracks of memories where he belongs he said take me to the station they retired him twenty years ago gave him a watch made of gold and took daddy s train