Local At 9.23 A.M. Poem by Rajkumar Mukherjee

LOCAL AT 9.23AM

suddenly a lull overshadows the otherwise noisy platforms
as the train passes by leaving one of its commuter
dead on the railway track

as if there is a sudden blackout
due to an unwarranted solar eclipse
as in the Mahabharata to kill Jayadrath

is the silence in honour and for peace
of the departing soul or
the suddenness of horror before thousand eyes

slowly returns the humming of the crowd
the police returns with the cleaners
to take charge of the body

everyone around gives his own version
of the reason of death
whereabouts of the person and
the possible negligence of the railways

normalcy returns and everyone gets busy
in their daily chores to earn their bread

away at home only the mother shivers at the thought
of an impending danger
as the lamp goes off during her Puja
first time in her life



Rajkumar - Mumbai