Urchin Land

Between here and nowhere

Through the land of the coal rich terrain

The urchins ran in

Wherever it was, the train had stopped-

And there she came

A young leader

Hardly dressed

Transiting between

Child and woman

And her band

Three siblings, perhaps

And they sang their toneless song

Spread their hands

And danced to Bidi Jalaile!

And the gents

Baring their teeth

Grinned-

Her dress had holes

And torn patches showed

Anatomical details

And how the black dust

On her feet

And dirty hair

Called for lust

In the eyes of the traveling males

So I puffed away,

Dazed

The pennies given,

The eyes knew

What they wanted

The urchins stood ground

And the guard

And the engine blew

Whistles of jeer

All aboard

The sad girl stared

Darkness came

And the men continued their card game

One club

One heart

Three no trumps

And they all thought of the thighs-

And the hand pump

They left behind

On the platform!