Traveller Diary Poem by Venkatesh Davangere

I had travelled much,
north to south, east to west.
I have seen thousands of faces
by sitting beside the window
of a bus or train or motor.

For sure I have seen thousands
of countenance in a single face
And also the face that is moulded
with single countenance as if it is perpetual.

I have seen dark and dull faces,
Happy faces, masked one and
The faces of which I have no clue.
And the faces that are hidden in
home cupboard or in the mirror!

I have seen beutiful faces, upon which
I could see ugliness beneath,
And the faces that might not beutiful
But I urge to behold it in my hand.

I have seen many old faces; with only wrinkles
and the very few smooth and young faces
upon which all the scars engraved.

I know faces becouse I look
Through the eyes of mine
Which of course longs to behold
The reality beneath the superficial.