The 8 bus squeals to its stop.
The entrance gasps agape.
A mocha-skinned secretary
Climbs methodically—
One foot, then two per step—
No stair skipped.
The day’s toll weighs.
She digs through her knit purse
Hoping for change.
She fingers/removes/unruffles
A crumbled bill
For fare coverage.
The driver nods approval
And what does she do?
This old rose
Parks herself
In the frontest seat to—
No alarm/No protests/No mind paid.
Just—
Sealed doors;
A shift in gear;
A mild acceleration.
Outside, by the bench,
Two young men,
With Hollywood tans,
Stand hand-in-hand.
They’re left
In the noise/the exhaust/the fumes.
Their bus has yet to come.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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3 comments:
I know the first line is awfully reminiscent of Chris' poem "Quiet," but this has been an idea in my head for a long time (since the date of the title). I'm happy that I finally got it down on paper.
You stole my idea Pittsburgh Stealer. Just playing. 2 things that I love about this are the "this old rose" it's so nonchalant and familiar and somehow loving ( if that makes sense). And I don't know if it was intentional, but the rhyme of tans and hand-in-hand is just subtle enough.
For some reason I didn't get a sense of age before the old rose line. I don't know if this is intentional, or if her age is even tha important, but I am intrigued as to how you could subtly incorporate it into earlier portions of the poem.
I like the use of alliteration in the second line, "gasps agape": it's fun to say, and the best description of bus doors opening that I've ever read, not to mention the shock and bewilderment surrounding the poem's focus.
As always, I love the puns: "The 8 bus," "The entrance gasps agape," "The day's toll weighs," "For fare coverage," as well as your use of slashes, though I feel that "removes" isn't as evocative as "fingers" and "unruffles" in the first use of slashes.
Overall, the theme of civil injustice truly resonates. Like Chris, I love the descriptions of "This old rose," particularly when followed by "Parks": no doubt alluding to Rosa Parks, and the fight for equality that is once again polarizing our nation. ARGH!!! It's infuriating, isn't it. Prop 8 ruined Election Day.
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