crowded on the bus

germy yellow hand railing

everyone looking down

at either book or phone

phones mostly

a few looking out

of the windows

the whole bus creaking

and parts shaking

crawling up

and down

san francisco hills

cars passing by our sides

stand clear of the doors

says the recorded lady

but the doors don’t open

and we keep moving

stopping and starting cars

on either side

so you can’t tell who’s

moving and who’s not

so quiet on the bus

just the ventilation

the bus stopping in traffic

and then starting

with a jolt

a dog bark

on the sidewalk

two motorcycles pass by

the fare prices posted

three dollars

for an adult single ride fare

and other ads

some peeling off

of the diagonal sections

between the windows

and the off white roof

out of downtown making

some progress now

my hand getting sore

from holding on

a beep, then two more

please give seats to seniors

and people with disabilities

says a recorded voice

a man this time

and then in other languages

the same message

presumably

doors are opening

says the woman’s voice

almost forgot

to pay attention

to whether

this is my stop

it’s not

but i better pay attention

getting off

at divisadero

everyone looking smug

to live in this neighborhood