I fill a prehistorically stained blue seat
as we pull left down Florida Avenue.

In a black pyramid of oversized shirt
a woman spreads gospel from hands

heavy with speaker cones, the chorus
warning all unmarried womens

to look out, look out for the devil.
A man two seats ahead stares out

into blurred spring-raised dusk,
shudders inwardly, cupped with fever -

the college girl who chanced herself
beside him fishes with a worried eye,

edges a thigh into silver aisle air.
Four kids without parents field

strange questions from an old drunk:
"You kids like watching cartoons?

You like them cartoons where pants
fall down and you see some ***?

I know I do" until the oldest brother
huddles them off the bus with a look

dark and hard as moonless brick.
As I exit on Belmont, I pass a pair

of construction workers, hardhats
tied to belt loops, fallen asleep

shoulder to shoulder, lulled
by the soft hunt of April thunder

that rides across the slates above,
leading lonely names into the west.

I was one,
Alone and no fun,
Then I met him,
Man of my dream.
Soon in the Church we said "I do",
And became two,.
Married life was a blessing,
But something was missing,
So we became three,
Ñow it was not him and me,,
But we wanted more,
So we became four,
Then five, six,
I told him no more heroics,
Enough us two and four kids,
Let's put on the lid.
29/4/2025

Sweetheart, may you have a wonderful life
A crayola-colored rainbow filled  with
JOY
LOVE
PEACE
MAGIC
WONDER
Very best of everything, sweetheart
A brand new gift for all of us.
Love Auntie M and Uncle H