27.3.16 (#86) Bus to Happiness by Myron Lysenko (ta Lizz)

(Inspired by Lizz Murphy)

At the bus terminal

the queue to catch a ride to Happiness

was long and disorderly;

people chatted and laughed.

I had bought a ticket

to Poetry Lakes

but that bus was empty,

the door was locked

and there was no driver.

So I stood at the end

of the queue to Happiness

pretending I belonged there.

An inspector asked to see

my ticket and my hand trembled

as I held it out to her.

She glanced at the ticket

and looked into my eyes

until I lowered them.

You know your ticket

doesn’t go to Happiness,

she said, not today.

She adjusted her hat.

Does my ticket

pass through Happiness, I asked.

Yes, but the bus doesn’t stop there. 

But the bus to Poetry Lakes

has broken down, I said.

I don’t know why

they sold you that ticket,

she said. Did you tell them
you wanted to travel today?

She touched my shoulder.

It’s ok, she said, hop on

this bus and get off at Happiness

then walk up that steep hill,

away from the town.

Follow the road to the cemetery.

You’ll find your destination

at the top, the view is amazing there.

The people in the queue

had been listening in

and when the inspector left

they all remained silent.

I couldn’t look at them.

I heard them breathing.