TEJASWINI KALE // CST Fast

CST Fast

My mind goes places 
it isn’t supposed to.
Travelling in rickety trains, 
leaning by the pole, 
the wind in my tangled hair.

It doesn’t yet fly 
with or without wings.
Just sits, most of the times
pressed against sweaty aunties 
buying things they don’t need 

from unbathed children 
impatient till they choose 
their hairpins, 
click them once or twice.

I look at them, 
my mind in their dirty huts 
imagining them setting 
their earnings down 
in front of their parents.

But I can’t be sure; 
I don’t know what 
exactly goes on in their lives.
I can only imagine, 
but I don’t buy 
the ‘less fortunate than you’ crap 
anymore.

Both of us are illiterate 
about the world the other 
inhabits; 
united by dreams, 
one 
in the 11:38 CST fast.

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Tejaswini has studied English Literature in Mumbai and is an aspiring poet. Her work has previously appeared in Reading Hour (Jan-Feb 2013 and Mar-Apr 2013), Nazar Look (January 2013), The Criterion: An International Journal in English (April 2013), The Northeast Review (July 2013) and Emerge Literary Journal (September 2013).