"The Bus" is the enigmatic opening poem of Indian poet Arun Kolatkar's book Jejuri (1976). Jejuri tells the story of the author's 1963 journey to a famous Hindu temple in that titular city, an experience that led him to reflect on the withering away of old traditions and made him long for new sources of meaning. In "The Bus," the speaker describes the uncomfortable beginning of this pilgrimage. The ride to Jejuri is "bumpy," literally and figuratively, as the speaker is shut in a bus with covered windows and no view but his own "divided face" mirrored in an old man's glasses. This old man bears the mark of a religious devotee and creates a contrast with the skeptical speaker, who seems conflicted about this journey and unable to step beyond his own thoughts even as he longs for a wider perspective and understanding. "The Bus" is a richly symbolic meditation on faith, doubt, isolation, and the desire for meaning in a changing world.
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The tarpaulin flaps ...
... at your elbow.
You look down ...
... get to see.
You seem to ...
... between his eyebrows.
Outside, the sun ...
... to change direction.
At the end ...
... old man's head.
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
A Memory of Kolatkar — Read a posthumous tribute to Kolatkar that describes his legacy (and includes his delightfully wide-ranging list of influences).
The Poem Aloud — Listen to a reading of the poem.
Kolatkar and Rushdie — Read novelist Salman Rushdie's anecdote about meeting the irascible, irreverent Kolatkar.
A Brief Biography — Learn more about Kolatkar's life.