Poem/prose on a train journey

When it comes to writing poetry, I have always refrained from it. Not particularly out of shyness, but the very fact that I am terrible at it. But as always I try my hand. This happened whilst I was on a train journey ( not again, you say.. hehe.. yeah!) and I was contemplating on things I am not good at. This was a long line of thought mind you. So many things I am not good at. But there was one I was particularly not good at and that was poetry. I never liked reading it and was horrible at penning it. I still don't know what is a poem or prose and hence, the title of the blog! So in the confines of the 3rd AC compartment, I made the valiant effort of giving it a shot. (Don't hold back on your comments/critiques/ or plain abuses because of the disclaimer. )

Dhak..dhak..dhak…

The train hobbles along,

Through the tiny openings of glass and curtain, I watch

Showing kaleidoscopic events of a million dreams.

A glimpse into their lives, we peep

Moments so fleeting, it ceases to be memorized

But we watch nevertheless

Dhak..dhak..dhak…

Amidst the slow, rumbling of wheel on track

Our eyes devour the moments

But moments so short-lived,

It desists being a memory

Where do these moments go I wonder?

To which lonely abyss are they banished?

Lived for once, forgotten forever

A moment’s glimpse, in a moment lost.

Dhak..dhak..dhak…

Observations on a train journey

This aimless scribble was scribbled on a train journey from Trichur to Nellore. 

Adjoining my compartment are two siblings. Two siblings of the best kind - brother & sister (I am partial as I too have an elder sister). Sister is the elder of the two and she knows it. Both of them are oblivious to the fact that they are not alone in the train. It doesn’t for a second enter their thoughts or actions. The sweet ignorance of innocence. They have made their compartment their own very domain. A domain filled with fun, happiness and a lot of imagination. I envy them.

My estimate of age of people is not accurate but nonetheless, I make a bold guesstimate that the sister must be around seven while the brother a five. Being the elder one, she decides which games to play, almost authoritatively.  The young boy has only love and admiration for his elder sister and follows her whims and fancies without a thought. There is no dissent in this kingdom. The queen has the undying loyalty of her young knight. It’s impressive how she can get the little boy to do anything for her. At the same time she is protective of his feelings and well being. He slips from the seat and almost falls down. She quickly grabs his hand pulls him back onto the seat.

He is trying his best to impress her. He even makes the bold attempt to sing a song and performs in a cute way to keep his sister entertained. Their games grow louder and more animated. The mother is not impressed and asks the command center to quell the noise levels of the troops or in this case the lone soldier. The sister admonishes the little one. He is visibly getting depressed. But lo! She throws him a bone. She asks him to sing along with her but in slightly lower decibel levels. He is ecstatic. His joy knows no bounds. He gets so excited, unable to control himself he starts to jump up and down. The sister gives him a glare but then quickly starts to sing. It’s a childhood song. The brother joins in but in more subdued tones. They sing the song beautifully. Only like a brother and sister can. 
I get lost in the melody, the memories and of a childhood gone by with a wonderful elder sister.