Elaine On The Bus 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

John was sitting
with the boy Trevor
on the other side
of the school bus.

I sat
with my sister.

He looked over
and smiled.

I smiled but
blushed
and looked away
and gazed
self consciously
out the window.

I felt as if
a thousand eyes
were on me.

My sister talked
to her friends.

The radio played
some pop song.

I wondered what
John and the boy
were talking about
whether it was about
me or not.

The boy
was gesturing
with his hands
John looked
disinterested.

I looked briefly
to see if he was
looking at me
but he was looking
at the boy
or at his hands.

I looked away
thinking of John
and how I felt
and if we would meet
on the field again
if the weather
was fine but not
if it looked like rain.