At Lunchtime

When the bus stopped suddenly

to avoid damaging

a mother and child in the road,

the younglady in the green hat sitting opposite

was thrown across me,

and not being one to miss an opportunity

i started to make love.

At first she resisted,

saying that it was too early in the morning

and too soon after breakfast,

and anyway, she found me repulsive.

But when i explained

that this being a nuclearage

the world was going to end at lunchtime,

she took off her green hat,

put her busticket into her pocket

and joined in the exercise.

The buspeople,

and there were many of them,

were shockedandsurprised,

and amusedandannoyed.

But when word got around

that the world was going to end at lunchtime,

they put their pride in their pockets

with their bustickets

and made love one with the other.

And even the busconductor,

feeling left out,

climbed into the cab

and struck up some sort of relationship with the driver.

That night, on the bus coming home,

we were all a little embarrassed,

especially me and the younglady in the green hat,

and we all started to say

in different ways

how hasty and foolish we had been.

But then, always having been a bitofalad,

i stood up and said it was a pity

that the world didnt nearly end every lunchtime,

and that we could always pretend.

And then it happened…

Quick asa crash

we all changed partners,

and soon the bus was aquiver

with white, mothball bodies doing naughty things.

And the next day

And everyday

In everybus

In everystreet

In everytown

In everycountry

People pretended

that the world was coming to an end at lunchtime.

It still hasnt.

Although in a way it has.