1. at the bus stop
with twisted tobacco at my feet
I watch as drivers pass,
chew gum,
with their radios low enough
to miss my ears.

2. no one smiles
as they drive,
but the dalmation
in the passenger seat
of a blue Toyota
does.
to most of them, i am
just a marker
to push the left turn signal.

3. next to me
someone has pulled apart
the stemseed of a greeny plant,
whose shredded bark
twirls like
lethal teeth.

4. I am planning on what
to tell the bus driver
when he learns
my Translink money card
won't work.

the card slides in the reader
and his eyebrows draw
near as magnets as he says
"try it again."
the card slides in, he sighs
"do you have any money?"
um "uhh."

the seat I choose
is strategically moved
from his view,
as the window seat
where I count my pennies
just in case.