the longest bus ride

by joel abel - Taurus

it was the longest bus ride
in the history of long bus rides.

a trip that would have
taken 4 hours
in my own car
stetched into 14 as we
stopped in every little
town, picked up
everyone running from
thier own life between
talihina oklahoma
and dallas texas.

why dont you ever write
poems about me?
she asked, as she lay
on the couch, leafing
thru my spirals.

the trees were black
shapes passing by the 
window.  the ocasional 
lights scattered thru
the hills seemed like
nothing more than outposts
for loneliness.  a drunk
in the last row yelled
out "laura"
and then fell back into
unconsciousness.

i am waiting for you
to leave me.
i said.

the bus rolled thru
perfect highways,  its
bright lights leading
us all on into something
we had allready failed
at a thousand times. in
a thousand perfect ways.

for a second she seemed stunned.
and i knew that i should
try to pass it off as 
a joke. or say im sorry.
or i couldnt stand
any of this without you.

i wrote "how the 
fuck does this happen"
on a slip of paper
and pushed out the 
top of the bus
window.

in an instant
it was swallowed
whole by darkness.
Birth sign: Taurus
Date created: 2001-06-09 00:59:58
Last updated: 2021-03-03 14:44:31
Poem ID: 63375

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