the yellow school bus

was there ever

a more dangerous

vehicle on

the road

than a yellow school bus

in the 1960's,

being driven

by a woman

the age of your mother's

mother?

picking you up

on a cold icy

morning

to take you to school.

she could barely

reach

the pedals,

or pull the handle

to open

and close the door.

somehow she tugged on

the long

gear shift

and grinded it into

first,

then second, then third gear.

the seats were as

hard as rocks

encased in steel.

no seat belts, no straps

to hold onto.

no heat or ac.

the windows were nearly

impossible

to open

with your childlike fingers.

she'd barely

stop

at a stop sign or red light

and would just

roll right over the railroad

tracks without

looking

as you slid from side to side,

hoping to survive.