The Red Bus Poem by Naga Vamshidhar Ratakonda

Seated happy I awaited,
Hoping a peaceful journey,
Reaching the station early;
'POM POM POM' it honked,
The seats are still empty!

Coloured usually Red,
Or Green sometimes,
The Govt bus travel,
A commoner's necessity still,
Else the roads are widowed!

Nearly full with driver and,
Conductor on-boarded,
The Red Bus honked again,
'POM POM POM' saying,
Everyone in station 'Bye Bye Bye'!

At Bullock cart speed,
It left the bus stand,
Honking 'POM POM POM';
Its engine roared in full,
Carrying its rusted metal body,
And torn away tires jerking!

With every punch of the ticket,
Conductor says 'Right Right',
And the bus honks 'POM'!

There goes the Red Bus,
Whistling 'POM POM POM'
Raging the dust of Indian streets,
Body dusted and inside dusted,
With only Nameplates and,
Number plates visible,
Every window seat half open,
Passengers spitting 'Thufuk Thufuk'!

The 'POM POM POM' red bus,
Has a flashback to tell;
Deployed in Towns & Villages,
Discarded after service in Cities,
After Heavy & Hectic use,
Therefore I cry 'POM POM POM'!

On every turn of the road,
Every sight of slight traffic,
From bicycle to pedestrian,
Red Bus honked time & again,
'POM POM POM' alerting,
No accidents any time!

Off it took its flights,
Hitting the bumps,
Jumping in the pits,
Climbing up the Ghats,
Sliding down the steep,
Forgetting never to honk,
'POM POM POM' to transmit,
Its pains to all in the bus!

With one hand on steering,
And other on horn for a 'POM',
The skilled driver sweating,
With a hand kerchief around his neck,
Stopped the bus in every nuke & corner,
And at every village not to miss any,
Waving their hand at the bus!

In every stop of the bus,
Vendors would sneak in to scream,
'Kay Biskay' or 'Garam Garam Samose';
Along with every sale of food stuff,
Insiders would hear a 'POM',
No. of Sales equals number of 'POMs'!

Got down from the Red Bus,
Everyone sighed 'Ufffffh',
In great relief finding themselves,
Equally dusted & discoloured like the bus,
To hear the driver make one big 'PAAAAAM',
Ready for return Journey!