Passengers

At the bus stop, jacket locked and dropped
Over my thighs
Like rain – skies tearing up
Ready for another blur and b-b-b-blurting out session

Dull midnight highwayman pulls over.


The origami doors fold out
To take me in
And after banter with the bus driver,
Double-decker sh-sh-sh-shakes
Itself awake
Like tea leaves.

The aisle is coated
In Metro and rain d-d-d-drops d-d-d-dropping
Atop heads and webs
And I'm greeted by mistakes
Loose change
And the braveheart mum who weans
Her baby off the idea that he'll ever
Catch a taxi.

Suprisingly
The Queen isn't
Smiling
Magnificently
In their eyes
Because they're blinded
By business of
Not
Being royalty
Or V.I.P
Or Someone.

And God is at the back,
Trying to s-s-s-speak,
But people put
A muzzle on
Him years ago,
Choosing to flow
Like the d-d-d-downpour
Forward -- Forward -- Forward
Without smelling roses.

There's no time for church
While the sky sh-sh-sh-sheds itself
D-d-d-damp and due
For more dew
Through and through
And the Calpol is almost out – the baby
Can't get ill again
Cos common folk c-c-c-can't
Afford to.

So they sh-sh-sh-shake
Rain off like umbrellas
Telling windows
Soon to be
Past
Condensate
Mirrors
That hope
Has gone
Monorail.

And all their movements
Are nothing but s-s-s-stutters.