"Tuesday 9:00 AM" -Cassie Adams

 

Tuesday 9:00 AM
by Denver Butson

A man standing at the bus stop
reading the newspaper is on fire
Flames are peeking out
from beneath his collar and cuffs
His shoes have begun to melt
The woman next to him
wants to mention it to him
that he is burning
but she is drowning
Water is everywhere
in her mouth and ears
in her eyes
A stream of water runs
steadily from her blouse
Another woman stands at the bus stop
freezing to death
She tries to stand near the man
who is on fire
to try to melt the icicles
that have formed on her eyelashes
and on her nostrils
to stop her teeth long enough
from chattering to say something
to the woman who is drowning
but the woman who is freezing to death
has trouble moving
with blocks of ice on her feet
It takes the three some time
to board the bus
what with the flames
and water and ice
But when they finally climb the stairs
and take their seats
the driver doesn't even notice
that none of them has paid
because he is tortured
by visions and is wondering
if the man who got off at the last stop
was really being mauled to death
by wild dogs.


Butson, Denver. "Tuesday 9:00 AM." Triptych. New York: Commoner, 1999. N. pag. Web. <http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/147.html>.

 

I think that this poem has a more universal rather than cultural theme. This poem was interesting to me because it connected dramatic events and ordinary, daily life. The poem describes a number of people waiting for a bus, which is a typical day to day activity. However, every character is also experiencing their own tragedy whether it be burning, drowning, freezing to death, etc. I think that this poem is universally relatable because every person has their own struggles and difficulties that they must overcome. And at times our own problems keep us from recognizing the problems of others and offering our assistance.