When I hopped on the bus, I grabbed my phone to catch up on some blog posts. After reading just one post, Betsy's at Two Writing Teachers, I pulled out my writer's notebook instead. And this morning I'm setting the timer for 30 minutes.
Surprised by an offer of senior space, I take a seat
I follow moving white lights whizzing by homeward bound
I follow moving red lights bound for the city
I follow white lights, almost stationary, threading their way home.
I look around me, people sit silenced by devices in hand,
Plugged in, but not connecting.
I'm surprised by the quiet and
the total darkness at so early an hour
Lights twinkle at the edge of the water
Beckoning me toward evening pleasure.
The tunnel curves into the bowels of the city
The rounded face of a station beckons,
We pause at a red light
A long red light
Accompanied by the quiet rumble of radio engineers.
Finally we edge toward the face of our first stop
No one disembarks, we add one passenger
The vacuum door closes with a whoosh
We wait and watch the red lights ahead
They disappear and finally we ease forward.
Only to stop and wait again at another red light
We move forward to
Another stop, six get off, a few get on
We stop and wait again,
An occasional female voice breaks the silence to
Announce the next station
As we ease forward, pulled by the light.
This draft was completed in 22 minutes. Thanks, Betsy, for inviting me to write a poem. Your voice was so powerful that I had no choice but to respond. And thanks for our slow progress which provided time to reflect and write.
Keri Collins Lewis at Keri Recommends is hosting Poetry Friday today. Thanks for hosting, Keri, during this difficult time for you. Be sure to stop by for today's taste of poetry love.
Keri Collins Lewis at Keri Recommends is hosting Poetry Friday today. Thanks for hosting, Keri, during this difficult time for you. Be sure to stop by for today's taste of poetry love.
