Bus Journey

A Poem by Thegoodgatasby

I love people watching. One day coming home from work I slipped in a headphone and enjoyed the journey I described below. All people in my poem exist I just have no idea who these people are.

You may not see me but I'm there.

I watch you sitting, I see you think,

Sometimes you are old, you are innocent and you are sweet.

I see your husband who you go home greet,

your precious grandchildren I'll never meet,

I imagine you crying and laughing amongst friends,

once working tirelessly to meet loose ends.

Sometimes you are loud, you are arrogant and you are rude,

you do not stand for the old or weak,

and as I watch you I see no depth, little character for me delve into,

no inner human for me to find,

in your words you are uncareful in your language you are crude.

I don't know you, but I do not like you, we are different, not the same.

You sit in front of me, and truly beautiful you are,

never before have I wondered, have I wanted one like you,

but there you sit so greatly, I think I quite like you,

You wear a shirt and duffel coat, you read a book I cannot see,

I see your life around you, you never seeing me,

for a moment your eyes wonder, our bus slams to a halt,

turning you catch me staring, and my eyes shoot quickly away,

you smile knowing smile, ad turn once more away,

you stand to leave, you're going, to here you must live close,

I like that you've left me, the bus is my place of play.

You have matched me, you have won.

I hope you'd thought of me that day.

On clambers on a family, three kids and pram in tow,

the youngest cries out loudly, and for you I feel rage,

you've interrupted my thinking, how careless of you,

refusing to play fairly on this stage I've gone and made,

you sister is more forgiveable and she smiles up at me,

she is pretty, she is cute, I cannot feel angry while I hold her stare,

I imagine myself childbearing, having a daughter as perfect as her,

she giggles and I feel awkward, now mummy is looking too,

you've caught me in my vacant stance, a conversation I can't have with you,

mum asks me where I'm going, I smile and I reply,

you say I look exhausted, you say I must feel just like her,

I smile at her comment, I do feel as she describes,

you say I look so far away, so peaceful in my seat,

I tell her it has been long day, that is true that is no lie,

she looks at me more deeply now, I look again at her but see her in new light,

I overlooked her as 'mummy', she is a woman just like me,

much older in age, but alike in mind?,

stress and tiredness overwhelm her, and I sympathise,

she told a joke I fail to remember, and I quickly fired back,

I misjudged her humour, I have already crossed a line,

she too stands to leave, she nods, the pretty girl waves,

I feel I failed so deeply, at the crappy conversation I braved.

Now I'm back to earth, and I tiredly check my watch,

I have been on here so long now, I patiently await my stop,

the next bus stop is full, and the bus is soon full too,

I stand and give my seat away, to a man who is not too steady,

he thanks and he smiles, he calls me love and he pats my back,

I'm stood up now and I am tired, my journey still long,

I feel my surroundings slipping, and now I'm left in black.

I wake at a jolt, to a giggle at my side,

my body gave in to sleep at a fellow passengers side,

my body slumped on the shoulder of a stranger I've never met,

I apologise repeatedly, more embarrassed than I could express,

'it has happened to the best of us' the stranger kindly said,

she is nice, she is friendly, for 10 long minutes I had slept,

she said I looked too happy to wake, and smelt too good to hit,

she says laughing playfully, and asks what perfume do I wear,

I sigh at my luck, and smile at the thought of somebody else not being as good.

I imagine a slap or a punch someone else might have thrown.

The bus has stopped for me now, and two more and me jump off, my human bed is smiling, waving. It is funny she will never know me, how chances are never again will we meet.

I see the bus leave, the sound disappears too.

© 2015 Thegoodgatasby

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Reviews

FateDictates

such a very cool idea, it had me hooked from the very casual start/observation. You can almost still hear hear these lines conversing long after in my head.