The Man who was Afraid of Dying

"Full steam ahead
and dead",
said a steam train who
prepared itself for another
ride down south.

"Great is the hour
that all chimps acknowledge death"
said nobody ever; forever in denial
is the sea of man and brainless be.

"Full steam ahead" wailed Cap'n
Cook who carelessly rammed his boat into
bedlem be.

"Dead was he", cried good ol' steam,
who without man or chimp or else would
be a cylinder in some smoke and some air.