A Day at the Railway Station

Cherry

By Ed Crane

Mon, 21 Oct 2013
  • 2210 reads
14 comments
 

 

Eagle eyes on the railway tracks.

Nimble fingers turn ballast

mining for something sellable.

Forgotten coins; half eaten chapattis;

ancient vegetable samosas

 

The platforms begin to fill. Dark

eyes settle on a new prize. Those

nimble hands now out-stretched.

Predatory eyes turn to fawning orbs.

Ivory smiles signal the begging game.

 

Herds of wingless sparrows gather

around the fortunate pecking for

crumbs of sustenance, scattering

in cheeky giggles as rail staff shoo

them off. A rupee here, twenty paise

there and they survive another day.

 

Human cockroaches - black eyed

angels with a stunted lifespan of

child labour, premature sex and

death on the streets.

Certificate PG
Poem
Journal

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Emotive, and vividily illustrated, Ed.

Tina

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Thanks Tina, I will try to write somthing more cheerful now smiley

 

Submitted by scratch on

Powerful stuff again here Ed.  the India trips must have been very affecting indeed, you're producing some great poetry from the recollections.  I particularly admire the 'predatory eyes to fawning orbs' line.  Well done again.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I saw some things I'll never forget, but not all sad. I went about seven or eight times for my boss and met some terrific people.  India is truly an experience to be treasured.

(I experienced those orbs - so tough to look away)

 

Submitted by a102866 on

A nice, descriptive, biographical poem. The "scavenging animal " metaphors are apropos. The sparrow of all seasons pecking for its, daily sustenance, and the scrounging cockroach siphoning off the refuse of human existence. This is a four cherries jubilee poem. I am prematurely awarding you with the succulent fruit. .

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Thanks, a102866.  I only met the ones in India, but one of my colleagues met the same kids in Sao Paulo and the 'great' Rio. When I think about economic miracles I just have to laugh. The real miracle would be if some of the kids benefitted from them.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Thanks again for the cherries Eds. Much appreciated.

 

Submitted by scratch on

"When I think about economic miracles I just have to laugh. The real miracle would be if some of the kids benefitted from them."

Yep says it all really, but I love the way that you say it in poetry Ed.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Thanks again Scratch. I'd like to do some more about India. Maybe show a better side of that incredible country.

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

'Human cockroaches' is so apt. A cutting, sharp poem, Ed. It is splendidly written.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Thanks Vera.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Heartbreakingly powerful. Great use of assonance. 

Another brilliant poem.

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

 

Bee

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Thanks very much Bee. xxx