Train At Three Levels

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SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Train At Three Levels

#1 Post by SivaRamanathan » 01 Nov 2012, 09:39

'Train At Three Levels' is my original, unpublished poem: I am not representing any other board this month with this poem or any other poem.

Sivakami Velliangiri

sivakamivelliangiri@gmail.com


Train At Three Levels

the first 'thrain' lisped from your stories, how

as a child you enlarged two anna coins on the tracks

with the weight of the Salem Express

then tossed them into the pulp of the Cauvery

for the peace of your ancestors;

the poet in me borrowed only the image.



as a young girl I remember the Western ghats,

tunnels of frightful fun, elephants at work at Punalur,

a wish to fall into wayside lilyponds, endless backwaters

making me wonder how they built those bridges

did the water come first or did it collect after the clouds let drop?


at twenty the train meant travelling into womanhood,

two girls and eleven boys, we were discovering our skin

and the power of touch with a group leader

(busy taking care of himself.)


when my daughter was a baby,

the train was a connecting link

to my parental home; my father carrying her

on his shoulders walking the coaches to make her breathe easy,

no longer leaving me almost always home-sick

living in a different water-less state;


now the train journey leading me only to think of afterlife.

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Train At Three Levels

#2 Post by Michael (MV) » 03 Nov 2012, 07:29

Hi Siva,

Do you mean

1/ for there to be the double spacing?

and 2/ no capitalizing where there would usually be; for example, at the beginning of a sentence?


Siva, Thanks for agreeing to represent the Block, and for ptoviding all the required info.


8)

Michael (MV)

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: Train At Three Levels

#3 Post by SivaRamanathan » 04 Nov 2012, 08:11

Michael
I did the double spacing twice but it does not auto save,so it come back to the original.Can you do it for me if you know how to?
The absence of capitals, I would like to retain because I read a poem like this somewhere.The capitalized title is alright. Should it be Train At All Levels,or, The Train At All Levels?

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Train At Three Levels

#4 Post by Michael (MV) » 04 Nov 2012, 21:10

Siva,

like this?

Train at Three Levels

the first 'thrain' lisped from your stories, how
as a child you enlarged two anna coins on the tracks
with the weight of the Salem Express
then tossed them into the pulp of the Cauvery
for the peace of your ancestors;
the poet in me borrowed only the image.

as a young girl I remember the Western ghats,
tunnels of frightful fun, elephants at work at Punalur,
a wish to fall into wayside lilyponds, endless backwaters
making me wonder how they built those bridges
did the water come first or did it collect after the clouds let drop?

at twenty the train meant travelling into womanhood,
two girls and eleven boys, we were discovering our skin
and the power of touch with a group leader
(busy taking care of himself.)

when my daughter was a baby,
the train was a connecting link
to my parental home; my father carrying her
on his shoulders walking the coaches to make her breathe easy,
no longer leaving me almost always home-sick
living in a different water-less state;

now the train journey leading me only to think of afterlife.
 

 
 

 

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: Train At Three Levels

#5 Post by SivaRamanathan » 04 Nov 2012, 23:23

Michael
I thought you wanted me to double space the words.This is fine,only it looks too crowded.

Siva

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