Who knew

Woman with child busses it
bag on back, stroller folded
toddler stands on seat
sweating it, sweating zipper open
no where to put coat
no extra hands to hold anything.

She tells toddler stories
of back home of their
someday home, home for now
in her back pack, in their hearts
in her dreams
there is a field with a brook
on the way to the school
a store on the corner
a bed and a room for each of them.

Who knew when she left home
at 15 it would be like this?
She imagined the party house
party life where everyone stayed
and hippie moms made healthy food
vegan yogic music magic
ends with bust, eviction.
The bus squeaks and rocks
its grey and timeless, like
it will always be like this.

Who knows maybe someday
the dream house, the husband
the golden retriever and chickens
the Subaru and library story hours
enough socks, some new friends
skin that’s not too tight
no more jumping out of fast moving cars
no more blue lights, night sweats
nightmares – toddler offers
drunk woman in old clothes
cheese cracker – it’s their stop.