Bus East Thru Medicine Hat 1980

BUS EAST THRU MEDICINE HAT 1980 (Bus leaves at 915 must remember) Cold outside, snow, early in November, Lethbridge 6 o’ clock bus ( hard seats )arrived at 7 : 45 in the depot at The Hat. Garbled voice on intercom metallic loud announcing Destinations but no one’s really listening; People asleep in sweaty heat unable To get comfortable angles on their table; Café windows half-wiped clear in places To see what’s outside through the spaces; Fogged from greasy hot air and cooking; Nothing there- just passengers looking. Watching police (eggs and bacon - I had no dinner ) Looking for trouble-making soldier ( reading papers, sipping coffees ) Double cops - English military and Hat city police. 9: 15 (oh, that’s me) squeal of brakes, hiss of air: Regina bus - soft seats room to spare Light inside too dim to read Stretch on two seats is what I need Look out at dark prairie, nothing. Darkness closes in, stars showing. Doze and watch others doze. Through window hear how wind blows. Driver warns grass-smoker in the back To quit unseen in the black. Sweaty sock odour, Beer cans floor-rolling over and over. Coffee like tar at Swift Current. Sleep again ( how the miles just went ) Wake up, down the steps stretch of legs Regina bright and sunny ( breakfast again - eggs ).