Goodnight, Rebecca

Goodnight, Rebecca

The night-bus, two hours behind

Hauls contrails, a phantom-asphalt 

Turned dirty headed. It pulls up, stops,

Nods its head, and apologizes about the time.

Looking, its aisles heavy-eyed, squirming, bent.

Its seats, squashed by the overweight cliental

Asleep on their backs. I could already tell

This wasn’t my money well spent.

 

                          

 

 

- Cole Hayley, 2013. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[Edmund S. Obumba]

Cole,i must say i always look forward to your writings..especially cos of the thematic musical pieces that accompany them!

[Ceri]

I'm maddened by this! I need to know the significance of the title! I've read and re-read and re-read the poem (which by the by, is brilliantly sensory), and I have failed to forge a link between the title and the text. I can only assume this night-bus is taking you (/the poet) from this Rebecca. Or maybe the bus is Rebecca? Long wait. Anticipation. Disappointment. Regret. Sounds like a relationship. Or maybe I'm trying too hard.

[The Butterfly Writer]

Interesting. Describing the journey without actually mentioning it. Well done.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

You have successfully characterised the bus, with barely mentioning the journey itself, your approach is as ever unique and captivating.

[Jon Settle]

It has been a really long time since I've read anything so well tenured to sensory detail. Great Job!

[外人 (Gaiji..]

what a vivid and marvelous image ! I can literally see the bus ! great job :)

[bobc]

C...just a small thing. By 'cliental' did you mean 'clientele'? Good poem...bobc

[Great Aunt Astri]

How many times have I set off on a wrong Journey!! At least for the man in the poem most of the others were asleep! Sometimes life can be 'a long tiring day'! I loved the music, that was soothing.

[Pax]

i felt like this piece, like a journal, it talks about the journey of your day to day life(perhaps i am wrong), It's a deep pondering- profound thoughts that hides a deeper meaning.... on that last sentence... its a long tiring day... but we do move forward... :)

a very nicely penned piece my friend...

[Barbara Walker]

Reading this, I could see all those overweight passengers, mouths agape in sleep, some snoring, while the new passenger looks on in revulsion, trying to come to some kind of place in their mind where they can endure the next hours. Great poem!