Lakeland Saturday Bus

by Paul David

Plastic vibrations and smiling faces
bodies too close for comfort
oppressive cologne jocks jostling and joking
the friendly Russians converse
ominous crewcuts
they think I'm some kind of Alien Hybrid
This ride is taking way too long
mottled sunlight peeps through the construction
green water and blue trees
the air's becoming stuffy as the submarine dives
the whole ride has felt like being in a tunnel
Asian woman next to me trying very hard
not to touch
her voice is gentle though when I ask her the time
what could possibly be causing this delay?
Indian girl across from me smiles knowingly
around the curve and over the curb we go
sitting in a tunnel the whole time
gotta scream gotta shout gotta cry out
this ride is taking way too long
cool white tunnel a welcome relief
as if to say your almost there
but too many minutes have already fled
my fast deflating clock
Port Authority no time to stop
round the corner and down the stairs
the longest line I've ever seen
waiting for me there
but a friendly Russian voice buys me time
One Dollar will get you on the train and off this line
and as the ancient subways wondrous pull
leaves the station behind
thank you though I know not who You are

Paul David is a poet, dreamer, malcontent, loner, and social gadfly on the journey of life.

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