Train! Train! Train! Poem by Umasree Raghunath

Train that goes far and wide all places
Amidst rain and sun with its amasses
Running behind the bridges above the waters
Inside the dense forests and hushes
All along making all kinds of people hop in
Sit through, sleep through and eat through
Their journeys that prolong all day and night

The life's endless scenarios unwinding in might
Finding new friends, who share temporary stories
Who bond and share food and playing cards
The hoping vendors all around selling all kinds
Of flowers, fruits, coconuts, food, drinks and nuts

The Pantry guy jumping from one seat to the other
Selling Tea, Coffee, Water, Ice-creams and dinners
There comes the man in the black coat, with files upon
Asking each one their destinations and tickets to look on
The lovers silently slipping near the doors of the train
To escape the gushing drama inside the compartments
Silently looking into the darkness of the night
And singing the new songs of love to unwind

Romances that flow in the air and flowers that smells
Transgender sway along their long hair and clapping hands
Touch upon every man for few monies to get along
The little beggar girl sweeps the floor of the train
With the old handkerchief found on the tracks
And the silently staring crowd throws one Rupee or two
A mother feeding her child gives the little girl some food
The girls stands up and holds her hands together in thanks

An old man who lost his wife few days back, stares at the tracks
Silently awaiting his turn to the heavens that he wants to take
Marwari family comes together with their feast of food
That looks delicious and gracefully smells real good
Jaggery, Roties, Sweets and Corn along with masala chai
They happily share the same with people passing by

Suddenly a limping man makes his turn to appear
His state of clothes and health seems to be saddened affair
Onlookers stare at him with unease, wishing he would go away
One or two gentle folks, share little food and money on his way
The scenes of begging and selling hawkers is so common
On Indian trains that run behind miles and miles
Streaming and pulling into the light and darkness of the miles

As the rain started, a young girl spread her hands to hold
The drops of rain from the sliding window pane
Seeing her happy smiles, that flowed contagiously
To others who wished to forget the nightmare of the journey
Few guys reached to the doors of the train and started to sway
The joy that new showers bring amidst the sunflower fields away
With the far away running mountains and raising sun shine
All the passengers looked relaxed and happy all at a time
Eagerly awaiting to exit at the destinations they reach upon
Thus making the train journey another memorable yarn