Incident on the #24

Repeatedly, she lets a stream
of mucous drop from her mouth
then sucks it back.
It is the sucking it back that makes it bad.

The easterly bus is crowded when I head home
but I get a less than comfortable seat.
There is something wrong with the woman in front.
The vision that taints her haunts me.

Repeatedly, she lets a stream
of mucous drop from her mouth then sucks it in.
It is the sucking it in
that makes it like a crime.

I wonder if this woman
was a regular person or
one of those workshop attendees who take this bus.
Regular people don't commit such crimes.

I don't want to be near her.
She sits in the front next to a red-beared man
who runs his hand over her arm and caresses her face.
There is something wrong with him.