Road Mending
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The sound of loud chatter assailed me just latterly – noise that had come from outside.
To wit this disturbance – a certain perturbance – my manservant also espied.
Shaji ran in from the yard’s lofty gate,
He spoke like a prophet or seer:
“Sir, please. Come quickly. No time to be sickly!
Road-roller and workers are here, they’re here – they’re here!
Road-roller and workers are here.”
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Fort Cochin’s new mayor is aware of the prayers that voters have made for their streets.
Casual labour’s been summoned. My dream is they’ll come and create a road fit for aesthetes.
At present it’s pot-holed and traversed by fissures.
Driving’s a challenging feat.
It’s quite hard to ensure, in taxi or rickshaw, one’s bottom remains on the seat, the seat – the seat!
One’s bottom remains on the seat.
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While tarmac is pouring, and neighbours adoring the new mayor’s fair-square policy.
I can’t help but notice this finishing coat is effectively foundation-free.
Beneath the thin layer of asphalt and concrete
Lies soft earth and loose sand combined.
At the monsoon’s returning, we’ll soon be re-learning
If dreams remain merely moonshine, moonshine – moonshine!
If dreams remain merely moonshine.
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With apologies to Edward Lear
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We get people offering to do our drive all the time with some ‘left over tarmac from another job’. I should get out there and enjoy the smooth ride while you can.
January 14, 2011 at 12:30 am
I intend to!
But I can’t help wishing that the money had been put towards thorough and lasting repairs to the main roads in Cochin.
January 14, 2011 at 9:10 am
a good foundation is everything …
January 14, 2011 at 9:07 am
I am reliably informed this is so…
January 14, 2011 at 9:18 am