70spoems/SaltLake

IN SALT LAKE CITY

An old woman on a bus bench
by the Woolworth’s pulls
up her knee socks.
Buses passing by her,
people passing by her.

The veins in her legs
bulge through the purple cotton,
like the streets where she has
walked, or sat waiting.

She tucks the purple socks
around the elastic garters
but they droop back down
over her worn out shoes.

Old woman
on a bus bench,
in the city,
smelling grimy,
it ain’t pretty,

A black-hatted
apple Annie,
she sits
reading Vogue.

4/26/76