Sign of Belonging

excuse me for a
                  fly in the window
and an hour before the bus takes off
should i wear my curly wig?
will that stop the fire in the mountains?
alfred packer built a good car
but the muzak on the rock station
being beaten by his father
                  horrible        that's ridiculous
let's pose
the fly's walking the sill outside the window trying
to get in
and people are looking
                              drinking coffee
still an hour before the bus takes off
couple walking out of the cafe
matching blue shoes
shows they bought them together
though hers are dirty now
his clean        a sign of belonging
still an hour






from The Troubles (1993)