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Mallika Khan

The Back of the Bus

The back of the bus

has ‘do not cross’ tape messily

wrapped around the seats.

The back of the bus

houses boys with their cigs and

girls you wanted to be like.

The back of the bus

shoots glares that make you wish

you had no eyes.

The back of the bus

leaves wrappers on the seats

and yells profanity.

The back of the bus

makes the driver shout

makes the driver stop

makes you wonder

what you lack in

the front of the bus.

Why you aren’t worth

halting the journey for.

The front of the bus

seats quiet children who

don’t know any better.

The front of the bus

inches their aged hand up your

underaged dress on the way to town.

The front of the bus

redirects panicked prayers to CCTV

and dings 7 times for the next stop.

The front of the bus

watches the driver miss it on purpose.

Why won’t it stop

why won’t it stop

why won’t it stop


The back of the bus

snatches voices that matter,

and eyes that should see.


Sometimes the driver must

watch for the smaller picture.


Night Bus by Paul Mitchell



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