Bonus #15 — On The Opposite Platform (First Version)
Among the people whose works were published for the third round, there were Fabrice and Ophélie. “The Staring Rose”, a photo taken by Fabrice, was one of the four images shared along with “The Research Of Beauty’’, a short poem written by Matt, while Ophélie’s piece of text “On The Opposite Platform” was published along with two mixed media by Norea and Sabine.
By the way, they were originally planning to submit a piece of text and a photo together: the aforementioned “On The Opposite Platform” and “Miss My Train”, a photo from Fabrice we hadn’t shown you in the previous weeks.
Here is the first version of “On The Opposite Platform”…
Text by Ophélie
Image: Fabrice — “Miss My Train”, photograph
This crowd pressing me, these neon lights attacking me, and these buzzing voices.
The rattle of the passing trains and the complaining passengers rushing and jostling me without paying attention. The urgencies of passers-by collide. Deafening hubbub.
Storm of disillusions, my loneliness rumbles.
And you, the stranger on the opposite platform, just a few strides away. Two tracks separating us. And certainly a whole world outside this station.
And your look, in the middle of this chaos.
I’m watching you. You’re looking at me. And you see me. Straight in your posture. Motionless.
While I pitch, jostled by these prejudices that lock me up, feverish on my tired legs.
And your look, steady and frank, to which mine clings like an anchor.
It is an outstretched hand, invisible and solid, which passes through the eyes.
Suspended moment, in the evening frenzy.
Fleeting encounter, your features are already fading and nevertheless will leave a trace in my migrant memory.
