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Street roots
14
s
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O c t 28, 2011
5
red and blue lights
by John Thiemeyer
my transfer hadn’t yet expired
or at least the driver nodded me in
behind me the two girls who’d been
talking with their mothers, each friend pressing against
the other as they jockeyed for chance to check in
on a cell phone they shared
conclusion: a routine
they’d say ‘I love you
ilu v u
over and over
like two serpents entwined
two creatures syllibatingly beseechingly and lovingly
at the moon
canines perhaps, wolves perhaps
but into a shared cellphone
VA
the one girl, the one with the wet bear clinging
to her overstuffed
backpack, had asked me for change
I looked at her I suppose disapprovingly
and was getting ready to say, I’m tapped already”
when she said I need a nickel for the bus
here’s 5 pennies
I told her forget the pennies and found myself
near tears as I handed her the nickel
we were standing in the rain, heavy but irregular
drops enough to distract while at the same time propelling
a person of whatever age into deeper thoughts
the lights at night in downtown were the same
you’d see reflected on rainy streets
anywhere there was a nightlife, the sounds
of traffic and subdued talk, the same
but the ‘i luv u i luv u’ in that strange contorted
valentine — that was rare.
it echoed as we drove over the bridge
I walked with it in the rain
walked it like a dog on a leash.
On the bus I sat in the disabled section
and held on. I was the youngest of the crew _
a dog faced me. I wanted to steal the bandana.
I was thinking, this being a moment, a rainy night,
made for deep thinking: I could have walked
it’s just over the bridge. If the driver had said anything,
I could of said something like, “my hip would really appreciate it
i f ...” and he probably would have let it go. He was clowning with
another passenger when the red and blue lights flashed by. Their
moment magnified by the rain on the windows
They were headed behind us to the old Hatfield or the Stewart.
“Another expiration date come due” I thought A room opening up. Maybe
for that fella who’d tapped me outside the convenience store earlier.
Street Roots is a proud partner
By Bear
Creating community, creating change.
Sisters O f The Road is—
Meals served up with hospitality.
with Jesuit Volunteer
Corps Northwest and
Americorps.
»
jL
JESUIT
VOLUNTEER
CORPS NO R THW EST
Office Cat Rooty and all the
Street Roots vendors would like
to thank M A X operator Sunny
Travis and her friends for
m aking 700 thermal scarves for
Portland's homeless this winter!
Your generosity is far-reaching.
Thank you!
Empowerment through our
Dorothy Day Community School.
"
J& di
I
HjW
Learning together for a
nonviolent and just community.
And don t forget: fu n !
Stop by for a delicious meal,
Monday-Friday, 10am - 2:30pm.
w w w . s is te r s o f t h e r o a d . o r g
133 N W 6 th Ave.
P o rtlan d , O R 9 7 2 0 9
5 0 3 -2 2 2 -5 6 9 4
SISTERS
OF THE
ROAD
B a ck by popular dem and a n d bigger an d better
than ever, it's Street Roots' a nn ua l online
auction! It's one week o f fu n and fu n d raising
fo r Portland's award-winning street newspaper
The auction will take place a t the end o f
October. I f you are a worker or business owner
that would like to donate to the auction with a g ift certificate or
services, please contact Israel Bayer a t streetroots@hotmail.com