World News Tonight
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The seven o’clock bus pulls
from the curb to take me home
from the stale gum of another
long day at work.

The driver smiles and taps a foot
to Christmas reggae on his radio.
Behind me, a woman taps back.

The radio’s against rules. A sweet voice
sings about Jesus coming—who wants
to stop it? It’s just for the news,
the driver laughs. It’s good news, I say.

Red sky burns down behind the groan
of the bus. I see a long pass,
two bodies running, a ball hanging
above darkness.

We move in a general sway with the wide
turns, the reggae beat. We exchange
our familiar nameless smiles.

The sun sets with its slow kiss.
Out the window, two women embrace
in a parking lot. In the mirror, I catch
the driver’s smile.