Bus Tales - the blue line train

Blue line train
Lake street
Climbed the steps as a train passes

Enclosed old rusty bench
Hauntingly beckons to me
With a stringy voice

Sit down for a moment

With 10 minutes to wait
I pass up the offer and move on down

A teenage girl
And an empty bench

I look at her
Distress
Swarms her body
She has a distant look
In her eyes

Looking far away
At trouble so near to her

The wind picks up
My long blue beaded earrings
Remind me

I slide over a bench and sit beside her

And say "You look like you are having a tough day"

I open my hand and show her my beaded earrings.
Several pairs and offer her one.

She refuses

And thanks me

The pain in her face eases

And she thanks me again

Bus Tales - Hennepin at the Library

From the 11 bus
to a dangerous walk across Hennepin Avenue
To the bus stop across from the library

He makes room for me on the bench
And begins his tale
I look into his face and see a mask of sincerity

He tells me he knows me
My name is Jody, Jody Smith
We met in kindergarten at Horace Mann School

The buses arrive he stands up
Says good bye to Jody Smithas he boards the number 4 bus

I get on the number 6 bus
He leaves my mind
With crowded streets my travels are slow

Looking out the window
There he is walking down the sidewalk
Having a conversation
All of his own

Memories of Strong Handsome Women

doors opening
she reaches around me and opens the door
flowers adorning my house
small gifts given from the heart
stolen glimpses
yearning for remembrances
locked up in clothing
knowing that she only has to wait

she takes my hand

and leads the way