They sings of the men as goes down to the sea; Of the heros of cannon and swords; An, writes of the valors of dead chivalry, An, the bravery of old knights 'n lords.

They sighs 'cause of the romance of knighthood is past 'Cause there ain't no ideals any more; They says that this world's a rollin' too fast To develop that "esprit de corps."

But them as complains are the ones as don't know, Who sits loose where it's warm and then kick - They ain't never seen a line saggin' with snow An' had to get Service back - quick!

They ain't never struggled with Death at their side, A-snappin' and hissin' and pale - Nor clung to the towers and grimly defied The assaults of the blizzards and gale.

They sit and are served with never a thought Of the fellers out pluggin' like hell - To supply at their touch the service they've bought With a light, or the sound of a bell.

These fellers ain't togged out all shinin' in steel. They don't ride around on no hoss - They don't sign no songs about how they feel In the gales when the feeders may cross.

They don't wave no banners embroidered in gold, In Latin nobody can read; They don't do no bragging of deeds that were bold, Their motto is "SERVICE AND SPEED.'.

Their armor ain't nothin' but slickers an' boots Their weapons are climbers and pliers Their battles are fought up where hi-tension shoots An' Death lurks unseen on the wires.

They're fightin' the gales and the blizzards an 'ice, Protectin' the towers and span With effort no measured in hours or price For one Cause - just Service to man!

So here's to the Lineman - The Son-of-a-Gun That can do without sleep for a week! That sticks to the job 'til it's every bit done And the feeders can carry the peak. For his is that Knighthood that's noblest by far That highest and mightiest clan, That's fightin the battles of Things-as-they-are, in the cause of the Service of man.

Contributed by TradeMasters (Bruce Masse) bmasse@axionet.com