See above.

Loser, stand up. Apologize your way past
the girl next to you and stand in the aisle; you’ll be
getting off first. Careful you don’t stumble on the step again
and fall into the street.

Wait for the next bus. Check your pockets
twice for the fare. When the door blows open
get on and drop the transfer. Walk down the aisle and then stop:
she’s there, in the same seat she was in

on the first bus. Sit across from her
and notice that she’s reading
the newspaper you left behind,
with its half done crossword and the coupons ripped out.

At the next stop tumble out the door and
into the street. Your twice skinned knees
will break open again, while the passengers
pretend not to see. Dust yourself off,

loser, because there’s another bus coming
full of serial impersonators
looking for the next big act,
and you’re it. You’re it everyday from now on;

it’ll be this way all the way everyday
you head to the office, the park, or the store:
people will show up everywhere holding on
to the unfinished things you thought you’d lost.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PS: thanks to Jon Wolf for the suggestion that brought this home.