Srivilliputtur Railway Station

Srivilliputtur Railway Station
The Railway station in my home town
is a silent, wonderful spot.
Far from the town,
3 Kms away,
it is unfrequented………….


Built decades ago,
its old buildings and a
tarnished name board,
neem and tamarind trees…….
Remaining asleep,
it wakes up in the evenings.
Men and women who journey,
arriving…………
vehicles parked,
cars, auto- rickshaws, cycles……..

It comes to life,
when the awaiting souls
look to the south
for the Quilon mail to arrive
(that hails from Kerala) …….


Porters rush, trolleys creek,
children jump in the air
(made quiet by their parents)
Policemen tighten their caps.
The platform is occupied…….





The Quilon Mail arrives like a giant,
long, endless
compartments in sequence
as a big, anaconda snake……


Fruit sellers tip-toe hither - thither.
Food vendors hustle.
Officials go criss-cross.
Passengers board and alight.
Parting words spoken.
Everyone in a fume!
All in the game! ..........


Whistle blows.
Signals exchange.
The train departs.
Its wheels gain momentum.
People disperse,
vehicles take a turn.

The Railway station is an orphan again.
It is there,
silent, dark,
unpeopled, dream-like ………………..


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Copyright reserved © 2007 New Delhi, India

Ramesh Iyengar