He could hear the rain drops 

splashing their untimely beat. 

'No time' he said to her.

A group of children crowded past

in black and yellow uniforms he

watched them as they flitted between

each other playing. 


The girl shifted round to look at him.

He looked tired

and pulled a hair out of his face.

She didn't understand him.



He watched in a trance 

as she started to cry.

'No time?' she said, it didn't wake him.

She glared at him and he shrunk

into the silent awkwardness.

She smiled and said ' maybe another time?'

and got on the bus.

Rod Zimmerman 5/4/99