I have travelled from Patna to Bhagalpur as a child by train quite often. Steam engines were still a part of the scene then.The highlights of those trips were two...one ,crossing the railway bridge on Kiul river, a tributary of the Ganga and the other was a long railway tunnel close to Jamalpur.
I made that journey to my nanihal in Bhagalpur, once again recently after a gap of probably 40 long years.
The sight which brought on awe and excitement, was tinged with disappointment.
The shrivelled brown earth,
Wrinkled into furrows,
That you see...is me.
Perilously parched and crying,
They say I am dying.
Does it send down a shiver?
I was once a river !
That you see...is me.
Perilously parched and crying,
They say I am dying.
Does it send down a shiver?
I was once a river !
The cool waters flowed calmly,
Beneath the mighty bridge,
Between its steely secure arms,
The train above rumbled,
The metal shuddered,
And I did quiver.
I was once a river !
I danced and swirled,my merry world.
Your peals of laughter,
Matching the trains whistle,
Chubby sooty faces,
Peering from the window.
I could'nt be livelier.
I was once a river !
The train has crossed,
And so have you,
Left behind is stinky residue.
The slime slowly smothering ,
The garbage pile building ,
Shrinking me to a sliver.
I was once a river!
Shabby concrete warts,
Sprung haphazardly,
Growing stealthily like cancer,
I am gasping,you are pained.
The train chugs sadly.
Bidding goodbye forever.
I was once a river!