bus smelt of yesterday’s old   grog  vomit take-away   windows  shut

tight

                    sick

first blind date  new lipstick  outfit    kitted out  in hope   city town

square

                    was

 fed well with young whit   talk   felt naked   wanted to   leave then

 b/dates

                    smiley

face   stood before me   hi   are you sarah’s friend  yes   suddenly his

lanky

                    mate

pulled my b/dates arm   almost lost   his balance lanky  whispered in

his ear

                    b/dates

expression never   changed mate  mouthing   abo   heard it again

abo

                    tried

to swallow the words   regurgitating in my throat   my date   looked

sad

                    for me

whilst ushered away   i could   go to any city / town although not spoken

out loud

                    racism

finds ways to surface   travelling home the cities   sparkling lights faded

into

                    darkness

as kibam shone on my face   saw my refection in the bus window i  smiled

knowing who 
                    i  am