ETS License Plate SPY 858

moving a little slowly today
possibly coming down with a cold
in the cold (-22)
the day of the Super Blue Blood Moon
lunar eclipse
i think the best time to see it here
was around 5am
was it clear?  was it cloudy?
i wouldn't know having slept through it
oh well
there's always next time
eyes to the sky in 2037

#307 Gold Bar

chirping serenades on a brisk morning
a short journey through the hood
refineries in the distance
news last week of birds
adapting their songs
to be heard above
the white noise of industry
winged ones perched high
among treetops
as a Featherlite truck rolls by

Bus #4612

'Stay back 15 metres'
'Humanities 101 this way'
the dubious driving of other vehicles
Fleet Services repair in action
at the Transit Centre stop
tending to lazy wiper blades
lessons in how things work
and a chalkboard sign on Whyte Ave
encouraging us all to
'Stay Magical'

#106 Lessard

the day begins with a museum of waxwings
bright beaming sun
everything bathed in white
(the bunnies will be relieved)
a fidgety toddler with a small moose stuffie
a passel of passengers
a stumble of trips
an anchoring of routes
Belgravia Road and Fox Drive
reminding me of a photo last week from London
a wayward fox outside 10 Downing Street
Meadowlark Road
and a bevy of larks

Northgate Transit Centre

waiting on a return trip
a question from a fellow traveller
do i know this address?
(brought up on her phone)
will the #9 to Eaux Claires take her there?
i apologize for not knowing
and suggest the app
but she seems content with her earlier route planning
could she use a ticket?
maybe for tomorrow
a hand off of the Red Thread envelope
(yesterday's vignette/tomorrow's ticket)

as i ride away i see her bus pull up
she waits to board along with all the other passengers
headed to Eaux Claires

warm at home now
i hope she made her way
in the wind and the snow

#140 Northgate

snowfall warning in effect
it comes and comes
and keeps on coming
scarfed and swaddled
glasses fogged up
not a day for note taking
an exchange of smiles
across the aisle
slow going as the bus
nearly gets stuck in the ruts
on 97th street
the tall elms oblivious to it all
branches boughs bent
not breaking
they've seen this show before

Bus stop #1128

waiting with the smokers
outside of City Centre
a curious blend of smells:
grapefruit, tobacco, baby powder
a woman with striped black and white
grocery bags
reminds me of the Zebra pedestrian crossings in London
and the advice on the tube to 'Mind the Gap'
here we have 'Watch Your Step'
printed on the rails
at rear ('back door please!')
exits of the bus
no matter how you say it
safety first on both sides of the pond