some days during the week I take a city bus
I watch her as she climbs on board
tugging a handcart stuffed with a filthy red Miller's Lite tote bag
I instantly hurt within myself for her
she's wearing dirty black jogging pants, a purple sports bra and runners
a scar runs up from underneath the waist of her pants to the top of the bra
she runs a finger up and down the scar, up and down,down and up
she has burns, scars, raised edges on her exposed skin
a man stands up and gives her his seat
she nudges my foot with her cart
she says 'sorry' and smiles at me
I return the smile saying 'it's okay'
her teeth are darkened yellow, crooked, some missing
I think her age could be thirty
she's so thin, there's no where to hide
I look at passengers, I see disdain, judgement, distaste
it looks as if some are pretending she's not even there
and my hurt for her increases
her pain has no filter

some days during the week I take a city bus
I watch her as she climbs on board
tugging a handcart stuffed with a filthy red Miller's Lite tote bag
I instantly hurt within myself for her
she's wearing dirty black jogging pants, a purple sports bra and runners
a scar runs up from underneath the waist of her pants to the top of the bra
she runs a finger up and down the scar, up and down,down and up
she has burns, scars, raised edges on her exposed skin
a man stands up and gives her his seat
she nudges my foot with her cart
she says 'sorry' and smiles at me
I return the smile saying 'it's okay'
her teeth are darkened yellow, crooked, some missing
I think her age could be thirty
she's so thin, there's no where to hide
I look at passengers, I see disdain, judgement, distaste
it looks as if some are pretending she's not even there
and my hurt for her increases
her pain has no filter

some days during the week I take a city bus
I watch her as she climbs on board
tugging a handcart stuffed with a filthy red Miller's Lite tote bag
I instantly hurt within myself for her
she's wearing dirty black jogging pants, a purple sports bra and runners
a scar runs up from underneath the waist of her pants to the top of the bra
she runs a finger up and down the scar, up and down,down and up
she has burns, scars, raised edges on her exposed skin
a man stands up and gives her his seat
she nudges my foot with her cart
she says 'sorry' and smiles at me
I return the smile saying 'it's okay'
her teeth are darkened yellow, crooked, some missing
I think her age could be thirty
she's so thin, there's no where to hide
I look at passengers, I see disdain, judgement, distaste
it looks as if some are pretending she's not even there
and my hurt for her increases
her pain has no filter