Whizzing poles made strange wind-tunes <br />Cool gusts from windows glided over my face <br />Coveted seat reserved with effort <br />On journey doze, can't waste even a minute! <br /> <br />Chugged along over clattering tracks <br />Passed through cities, hamlets, woods <br />Even saw an excited child's hands wave <br />At the blaring horn, a farm cow's uneasy mow <br /> <br />A remote station, platform hardly long <br />To hold that winding express train <br />A few village women with coloured water pots <br />Station taps filled up water for thirsty throats <br /> <br />Halted only for a few moments <br />But time enough to hop on, for hawkers <br />In fervent hope of selling their wares <br />Farm-fresh ripe guavas and crisp kakdees* <br />Cut, served sprinkled with salt and chillies <br /> <br />Sold like hot cakes to hungry traveller <br />Some even angry at slow-coach driver <br />As if late running wasn't ever expected! <br />So the ire was on hawkers' bargaining, too bad! <br /> <br />Clambered onto upper berth for li'l stretch <br />It was a three-tier (not 'tyre') coach <br />AC was when we walk through the vestibuled cars <br />Our coach - cooled only by windows and fans <br /> <br />The fan just refused to turn on its own <br />Needed prods with a cautious pen! <br />Produced more noise than breeze <br />Drowned the din, it's whirring cries <br /> <br />The restroom, best we don't discuss! <br />Tea or coffee could turn even a calm, restless <br />But bread omelettes - my choice delicacy <br />Fresh, hot, spicy - never too pricey <br /> <br />But wouldn't you with me, readily agree <br />Special experience, is a train journey? <br />Most times late but reach it finally will <br />Taking you many places only by this wheel. <br />- - - <br />*Cucumber in Hindi<br /><br />Padmanabhan Ananth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/memory-tracks/
