The Fifth Man Poem by Pradip Chattopadhyay

There’s always a fifth man in the cab.

The fifth man
Pathetic pitiable
Ignored
Smoked out

And the one to go out
Before the ride begins

The fifth man never finds a place in the cab.

Find on his face
The smoke’s trail

Find in his look

Written bold

FAIL.

He’s the one without a place

He’s the one leaving no trace

He’s the one without a room in the cab.

Find on his face
(though you wouldn’t care to look)

the smoke’s trail

of time and again failing
to find a room

find in his look

written bold

DOOM.

For the fifth man there’s no space in the cab.

While others win
(or so they think)

ends his journey

before it begins.

The fifth man is forever out of the race.

Never makes one of four

When closes the cab’s door.

Find on his face

Written bold

LOST DEAL.

The fifth man ever out of the cab

Still

Isn’t a fifth man

By his own free will!