At the railway station

I have arrived at the station
like scores of times before.
I have travelled many thousands of miles
and have to travel still hundreds more.

I have arrived at the station this time,
waiting for my daughter to arrive on the line,
like many a time before,
and will do so many times more.

I am at the railway station
a mini-Cosmos of life here apparent
bustling with activities and commotion
travellers pulling or pushing with exasperation
after a long weary journey and sheer exhaustion.

I am at the railway station,
waiting to pick up my daughter.
I have brought with me her chihuahua
of a teensy-winsy size
with  big round eyes,
a gorgeous creature,
an invaluable treasure,
and my daughter is mummy to her.

The train is delayed and
I am still at the station
a microcosm of life floating by,
a moment’s daydreaming
may mean a drama disappearing
from the very front vista of your eyes.

I am at the railway station,
just outside the platform,
cannot wait to greet my daughter,
for weeks I haven’t seen her.

Patiently I wait at the station.
A cold raft of wind all of a sudden,
I pick up the chihuahua,
and hug her to be warmer.
I am pondering at the station
seeing train after train pulling out farther.

If one observes closely
one can witness characters
playing out as if in a theatre
a theatre of life in the raw
here and now for sure.

No rehearsed mish-mash
but true to life emotions
of human frailty, love and loss
tinged with glimpses of hope and joy
played out in the very nose of your eyes
but you need to derail out of your train
of daydreams
to see for yourself
a theatre of life in parallel.

I am at the railway station
it’s getting late
but no train yet.
I see a lassy running forth
with a beaming smile
and outstretched arms
ready to hug,
there swaying with a stoop
an elderly man stood,
possibly her grandfather
he too with open eager arms
ready to embrace the little lass.

I am waiting at the railway station
and see from the corner of my eyes
at the other part of the place up high
a young woman waving to her man bye
with a kiss thrown in the air , her face so solemn,
was that a tear too that I see in her eyes
or is she just wiping to clear her vision?

I am eagerly waiting at the station
any minute now my daughter’s destination
even the chihuahua is impatient!
I enter the platform to greet my arrival
suddenly I hear a commotion
on the end of the other platform.

Two policemen restraining
looks like a drunken homeless
onlookers couldn’t care less,
they are passing by
as if nothing has happened
but they pretend to be shy.

The railway station is becoming rapidly
a theatre of drama for free.
Suddenly , the chihuahua is excited and swooning,
I think she has spotted her mama coming.