the first man
who wore a tie on the bus
was young but
dressed in a different era.
his white shirt
partitioned by thin blue lines
was yellowed
at the collar as if he
had been nervous
in this shirt many times before.
in his abstract print tie
(all pastels)
and impeccably shaped hair at
the nape of his neck
and back of his ears
I watched him fill forms out
and snack,
the whole bus ride
on raw

lettuce.