what can be more sad and tragic

than a young couple

                                          red-eyed

so weary of miles

lost in fluorescent whiteness

- a bus depot cafe

a small baby with them

fretting and crying

feels the anguish of the parents

the lostness of the journey

it broke my heart to see

the man walks to the juke-box

his shirt is red and shabby

beard and jaded eyes

- sixties rock 'n roll

aggressively fills the room

a wall for them to hide behind

the pimply local kids

                                           startled

look up from their giggles and stare

sensitive to the tragedy they can feel

but can't understand

the couple recount their money

anxiously add up the miles

find none of the total comforting

I cry from the gloom in their faces

Golden B.C. is not golden

is white and oppressive

makes the clock move so slowly

I sit in the corner

hiding behind a book

pitying the young couple

pitying the local kids

                                           waiting

pitying myself

                                           feeling

all bus-depots are the same

the same young couple

the same tragedy in the air

everyone waiting

the baby never grows old