bus stop

and he's sitting in a puddle,
waiting for the school bus
though it's only six in the morning
so his mom could get
that 'shut eye' she's always
craving when her boyfriend
of the minute
comes over for breakfast.

forty degrees
give or take a few,
and he's forgotten his jacket
again
but he's too scared to go back inside
for the noises that could assault
his poor, cold, little ears.