(a Fantasy At The Train Station) Poem by RIC BASTASA

the white man dropped the newspaper
lay it aside
seeing this woman with bangles
and brightly colored clothes
he sees beauty and she amazes him

he goes near her and asks for her name
he looks at her gently like he's a man in love
for the first time in his life

she looks down and then changes her mind
she looks at him
tells her name and asks of his origin

(and now back to reality)

the white man lights his cigarettes and puffs up some smoke
in the air
she never likes the masculine pollution
the train arrives at the station
hurriedly she gets off the train
he stays looks at his watch and goes back to his vacant seat
he read the papers again
no longer amazed at the bright colors outside the train's window