NO PLACE TO HIDE.

A GIRL THINKS ABOUT A BOY ON THE WAY HOME ON A SCHOOL BUS IN 1962.

On the school bus home
she looks out the window
her younger sister
yakking as usual

to her friends nearby
but Elaine tries
to shut her out
and focus on John

and what he said
when they met
on the school
sports field

at recess lunch time
and what she said
to him and still
she couldn't say

to him how the kiss
had made her
feel inside
she watches

the passing view
fields
farm houses
trees

cows
sheep
trees
and she knows

if she looks across
on the other side
of the bus
he'll be there

looking out
of the opposite window
should I look over?
shall I see

if he's looking at me?
her sister giggles
about something
her friends giggle too

she hates it
when they giggle
she thinks
they're giggling

at her
she puts her hands
on her knees
rubs them

take her hands off
runs her palms
along her thighs
she looks over

at John
he's looking out
the window
she can see

the back of his head
and that boy
who sits next to him
is talking to him

she looks away
tries to go over
in her mind
the kiss he gave her

what seems now
some time ago
so sudden
so unexpected

and his hands
touched her
as he kissed
where?

does it matter?
she looks over
at him again
and he looks at her

and she blushes
and looks away
houses pass by  
hedgerows

horses
houses
she feels open
as if he'd spread

her wide
and nothing
is hidden
no place to hide.