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August, 2003

Int. Polly's Song Stuck in Her Head

It followed her by bus across
two states          she didn't know
the words but there was a whistling
part          she didn't know how to whistle
either, but at least she could hum along
it was a happy tune
something she wanted to hear when the
                    credits rolled
It was sunny          car top down     open road
          no place to be

She'd never ridden in a convertible
or a subway     for that matter
She remembers that line about relying on
the kindnesses of strangers
doesn't know where it's from only that
     she is a stranger too
She keeps it like a bible verse

The bus driver who picked her up mid-step
who gave her a free ride to the train
station who helped the group of
tourists find their town          pulls out
a paper bag at the stop light
in it a granola bar wrapped up in
a bow          some silly small
gesture from the bus driver's wife
maybe while he was in the
shower          and she, laughing to
herself makes his lunch a gift
     and Polly thanks his
wife     for the free ride




© 2003 by the respective poets