graffitied green bench

this is old: originally posted at http://allpoetry.com/poem/6486479 at: May 28 4:53 PM 2010

smog erupts around us,
and the ancient piece of public transportation,
chugs away, leaving me
and a little old lady

on a graffitied green bench.



she smiles,
staring straight ahead complacently,
and i long to kindle up a conversation,

just to ask her where she hails from.




her ancient cheeks,
smeared with rouge to keep up her youthful appearance,
and bright red lips,
wandering from their boundaries,

small and spindly hands, clasped tightly together in her plump lap.




and as the next bus pulled up,
she stood, unsteadily,
and looked to me kindly,
before mounting in hesitation.






i wish i had had the words i wanted.