Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE IN A BUS, by THOMAS MCGRATH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOVE IN A BUS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was born in perhaps the holland tunnel
Last Line: Human, impermanent and permanently good
Subject(s): Chicago; Love; New York City; Prostitution; Manhattan; New York, New York; The Big Apple; Harlots; Whores; Brothels


It was born in perhaps the Holland Tunnel,
And in New Jersey opened up its eyes,
Discovered its hands in Pennsylvania and
Later the night came.

The moon burned brighter than the dreams of lechers --
Still, they made love halfway to Pittsburgh,
Disturbing the passengers and sometimes themselves.
Her laughter gamboled in the bus like kittens:
He kissed with his cap on, maybe had no hair.
I kept remembering them even beyond Chicago
Where everyone discovered a personal direction.
She went to Omaha; he went south; and I,
Having nothing better, was thinking of chance --
Which has its mouth open in perpetual surprise --
And love. For even though she was a whore
And he a poor devil wearing built-up heels,
Still, love has light which like an early lamp
Or Hesperus, that star, to the simplest object
Lends a magnificent impersonal radiance,
Human, impermanent and permanently good.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org




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