Back and forth
the bus takes us
to work and home.
Back and forth
to the day we die.

None of us will retire to Florida
or even to the barrios of San Antonio
unless it's the cemetery of San Fernando.

Across the aisle,
Pat Carnal teases and tickles his girl friend.
She squeals and reaches to tickle him too.
In piquant expectation, he scrunches forward,
inviting the feel of her fingers.

April 11, 1983