Memphis Bus

  by admin    Poetry + Prose     Add Comment

Written by Stewart Acuff

Once a long time ago

When I traveled either by bus or

Hitchhiking I took a bus from Memphis to

St. Louis.

What ought to be a six hour ride took nine

It was the local you see and I swear we

Stopped at a gas station in every town on

Highway 51

Sitting next to an elderly Black lady we

Talked and every now and again she held a

Small paper sack up to her mouth.

Wondering what it was I tried not to watch.

Finally she said “have some” and I said

“Yes. Thank you”. That raw red liquor

Tasted so good and warm when it went down

Those last four hours weren’t so bad or long.

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