Haibun - My Train Days
The Trinidad Government Railway existed between 1876 and 28 December 1968. Originally built to connect Port of Spain with Arima, the railway was extended to Couva in 1880, San Fernando in 1882, Cunapo (now Sangre Grande) in 1897, Tabaquite in 1898, Siparia in 1913 and Rio Claro in 1914.
During my high school years, there was a phase in my transportation where i travelled from Chaguanas to San Juan by train. Those were for the most, for school children passengers, days of flirting and naughtiness.
The boys did what we called 'hopping the train' that is they waited until the train started moving, then they would jump aboard. (very dangerous i remember one boy of Chaguanas whom i knew got both his legs crushed) There was also those boys who would not spend money on a train ticket and dodged the
inspectors from carriage to carriage. Then there was the 'throwing of powder' boys would buy small tins
of white talc - (thank god they were fragrant scented talc) and sometimes
baby powder; and they would go through the carriages sprinkling on any unsuspecting girls. Some girls giggled and flirted others who didn't would 'cut eyes' at such behaviour. Strange to say though i do not remember getting powdered.
Those were just some of the behaviours on board. But that was not all; there was the scenery
which at that age i really did not ogle. But there it was, nevertheless, cane fields, rice fields, country houses. bison grazing etc etc. The poet in me i think, was sleepy in those days.
hoot hoot all aboard
chug a chug clackety clack -
mischief plays itself
Haibun - My Train Days © gillena cox 2024
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challenge: write a poem sharing with us your train travel experience.
