The Last Bus

by Rodney Johnson

Poetry, Heard/Arlington County Detention Facility/OAR writing contest, August 2021

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

One more block till I get to this seat.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I’m still thinkin what will I eat

As I walk down this street

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I finally made it to this bench to have a seat

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I sure hope this last bus has some heat.

I wish things were different in my life

So many thoughts.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I have so many bags around my feet to keep in the heat.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I wonder how much time is left,

I really need some food to eat.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I think I better ask this person walking by

can they help me get a bite to eat.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I want to take my bag off my back

I have to unhook this strap

I’m just to cold and weak.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

This must be for me

Let me get up for he roll pass me

I hold out my hand so he won’t miss me

As I want for my face to intake this heat.

Lord I can’t feel my feet!

I made the last bus so cold hungry and weak,

I wonder where this will land me as I sit on this last seat

I sit at the back of this bus thinking about the last stop saying,

Lord I can’t feel my feet.