What tom did

Poem

WHAT  TOM  DID

K.R.BALAKRISHNAN.

They are laughing
Tom turned back while walking uphill
Towards the profound university centre
Oh ! what a laugh by these ill-mannered lot!
How was it that they knew what Tom did ?

College fellows chewing something under the trees
Putting their books on the rocks
A rain should come and wash away those books
Tom was musing, seeing their laugh ;
How was it that they knew what Tom did ?

Quick steps Tom made
Miles  to go to that centre
An unexpected rain did not make him wet
Except a car that dashed by.
But why the passers-by looked at him and laughed.?
How was it that they knew what Tom did ?

Near a shop three men gazed at Tom
Murmuring something unheard by Tom
And they laughed in surprise;
How was it that they knew what Tom did ?

With torrential talk, some ladies near a beauty parlor
Stopped their talk abruptly
And looked at Tom in surprise
How was it that they knew what Tom did ?

Oh ! Tom could not tolerate any more
Returned half-way running amuck
Running downhill, he saw those talking ladies
In front of the parlor, not heeding him.

Three men near the shop still there
Discussing the country's election results
And Tom noticed with surprise while running
They were unconcerned of him.

No passers-by looked at running Tom
As they were busy with their own affairs
The college fellows still there, chewing
And their books and thoughts undisturbed.

Tom ran panting and perspiring and suffocated,
He wanted nobody to know what he did
He wanted nobody to know what he did.

……….------…….

(The poem uses the”technique of contrast” while dealing with the theme of an act  considered by the young man as despicable and having a heavy impact on his mental balance. Kindly see how the people appear to him while going uphill and coming downhill reflecting the imaginary vicissitudes.)