A Hoop Girl In A Train Poem by Sudam Panigrahi

As my train chugs along
she wearing tattered salwar
comes along with her daughter
of three years
who smeared
two big round red dots
on her cheeks,
a flower tucked
to a rope on her cap.
Holding a small hoop.

Her mother beats a steel dish
kept upside down on the isle
with a stick,
while daughter
shows her hoop skill,
starting from right foot
through hands
ends up in left with zeal.

Music speeds, speeds up she
begins jumping

from this end
to that.


When she spreads
her hands for some coins
some give with red eyes
and words
while some complain.

And they walk
to other coach
propelled by hope
and hunger

Holding their hoops and steel dish