On the Train to Agra
Varanasi to Agra 24 hours
not many miles how long a day
can be and we although every day
is actually the same number of hours
not today today we watch
outside the train a place we don't know
why we came to see what we don't
temples and forts as many gods
as words a husband lifts up his round wife
he holds her up and places her
on the second birth a lotus on a bunk in the train
she covers her head with a blanket and snores
later he lifts her out again rice and dal
for breakfast chai chai chai we look out
the window white egrets more cows than I've
ever seen there are cows on main street
cows in front of our hotel cows at the train station
next to a 2 year old girl in a purple tutu
women wearing colors I didn't know
existed sleeping side by side on the train station floor
the season now for guavas and mustard greens
pajama an Indian word that does not mean pajama
I sleep in my travel yoga pants they have a secret pocket
the secret is outside this train