|
The Woman on the Morning Bus
by Maureen Glaudeshe holds Atwood*in her lap
but mostly keeps her eyes closed
kitty-corner across from me she's seated
on the long bench, right angled to the driver
her black hair in a neat upsweep at the back
controlled by the beige teeth of a
plastic comb
hoop earrings
large auburn eyes that remember
to open and check, now and again, on
the whereabouts
before her stop
is due
lips that seem to want to smile
but resist
on her reddish brown leather jacket
large lacings in braided Xs
leather again
mark the edges
over her wrist is looped the strap
to her purple compact umbrella
swinging to the sudden
jars of motion
at her side, a large briefcase
instead of a purse
she stirs
from her pseudo-slumber
knowing by the number of stops in sequence
when her trip must end
tucks Atwood in her briefcase
reaches for the ringer cord above her head
and rises
reluctance
in her eyes
04/27/2004 Author's Note: Atwood being Margaret Atwood, the bestselling Canadian author,(many bus travellers read her novels on their route
here, and it's common to see her books with them).
Posted on 04/27/2004
Copyright © 2025 Maureen Glaude
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 04/27/04 at 01:27 PM Hmmm...a self portrait? Whoever she may be, good job in fleshing out what could easily be man or woman on their way to another day at the sweat mill. |
| Posted by Anne Engelen on 04/27/04 at 01:59 PM I like how you describe this scene. Puts the reader right in it. lovely read! |
| Posted by Ken Harnisch on 04/27/04 at 06:12 PM funny how universal life is on a commuter bus. I believe I've seen that young woman on a bus here in New York..but i doubt she was as compellingly portrayed as she was here, Maureen..:) |
| Posted by David R Spellman on 04/28/04 at 11:11 PM Great portrait of the everyman/woman caught in the mundane task of life. This says so much between the lines as well as in them. Nicely done Maureen! |
|
