Words and I

…once you had silver, then came the rains out of the blue…*

The train rode slowly as it was nearing Jakarta from Central Java. The view was slowly changing, from abundant trees and vast paddy fields to dingy packed houses and luxurious skyscrapers. It was past 3 am and people were still in their slumber land, I supposed. 

But not here. At Jatinegara station where the train stopped for a while to drop some passengers, I noticed that the train I took disturbed some people. It was raining a little. It had to be so cold outside. Especially for those who were sleeping on the station’s floor with only a piece of newspaper or mat. They stirred a little when the train came, felt the train’s wind kissed their trembling body, then continued their wakeful sleep. Some woke up and sat down and stared at the train blankly. They should have slept at home, I thought, but of course they have no home to return to.

But I noticed that there were people with complete attire, plus shoes and a bag, who slept on the station’s floor too, joined with those homeless. What are they doing, I wondered. Miss the train and have to sleep there? Run away from home? Got bankrupt and lose everything? Or just totally fed up with ‘normal’ life and try to be a hippie, or what? 

The train left and life went on for the day. When I arrived at Gambir Station, I put some bread near an old man who was sleeping soundly on the ground near the taxi pool. It was still dark outside… but the sun always keeps its promise to rise every morning. It would do the same today… unless the rains came out of the blue.

I hope we all have umbrellas.  

*Sung by Enya