A Train Coughs Poem by santhana louis

A TRAIN COUGHS


A travel by train is always
a pleasure - that too,
under concessions at reduced rates
as allowed to the senior citizens

I find only old couples in every train
on distant journey to all directions
unmindful of their age and in-built sicknesses
mobility has improved with aged passengers.

reserved coaches are now, as silent as reading rooms
no chit chat, loud jokes nor playing of cards
egoistic postures and iron rigid old faces
occasional coughing, ready medicines in special pouches

seldom they speak out and mostly in deep sleep
rounding and rounding on small trivial pretexts.
Railways are rendering a very great service
to the nation's spent force - senior citizens

by keeping the fares stagnant for decades
and with the increasing concessional categories
unchecked unauthorized travelers, roof-top boarders
cash-in passengers number gets vastly dwindling

yet, profit reported runs in 5-digit crores
In Rail Budget next year, the Minister is so kind,
will consider attaching an Ambulance Coach in
every super fast, just in line of a Pantry Car

to be in service to the traveling concessionaires
as old are nowadays not resting at homes,
but prefer to be on the move at state's expense.


Louis Santhana