He stood there in desperation, in awe,
He was breathing hard, hardly anyone saw.
--------------------------------------------------------------
He was pale and dark, with a bag in his hand,
He felt weak and cold, in this unknown land.
---------------------------------------------------------------
He wore an old chappal, clothes rugged and torn,
Sleepy eyes, disheveled hair, he looked worn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Would have arrived by the morning train,
Strolling in the station he waited in vain.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I was standing beside and watched him stray,
Like a ship with no aim, he wandered without a fray.
--------------------------------------------------------------
He stared at the fruits, the sweets and the cakes,
Decorated for the day, waiting in the racks.
---------------------------------------------------------------
If he had any money for the food, I doubt,
as he had nothing to survive the drought.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I saw him until I found my train coming,
I stood at the door and kept staring at him.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
He kept roving around and helpless as ever,
Then he faded in the crowd and now it seems,
I have never seen him ever.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A thousand such faces we have seen,
Meaningless for us, a stranger, hardly we remember any,
But then why is he still squirming inside me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
