My father served in India for many years
I was actually conceived in India
But my parents returned reluctantly
About a month before I was born
As they wanted me to grow up in England
So there it is I have lived in India
But not in an original way
I travelled everywhere with my dear mother
As I did not really have a choice
I have however retained a great love
For the railways of India and beyond
We lived I am told near a railway station
And my mother used to sit near a window
Primarily to cool down but also to watch the trains
She loved the express trains as they screamed
Through the station on horn trying to avoid
The stray and diseased dogs that tended to infest
Such areas in the hope of careless food
She told me stories of people wandering on the tracks
And either being hit or enjoying near misses
Such was the chaos of life in the cities and towns
I have never in my tender years visited India
And at present have no plans to do so
But this is to my loss as I existed there once
In the days before colour memory and song