Rhoda Mae Evans
Rush Hour - Take a Seat

the
man
takes up
lots of space
with outside organs,
spreading his legs across two seats
on a crowded bus, airing the family jewels,
as my husband would say, while other commuters hang from the ceiling by leather straps.
habet duos testiculos, bene pendentes.
he has two well-hung testicles*
perhaps he will be
the chosen
divine
next
pope

or
will
Pope Joan
fantasy
be manifested
by future women, breaking molds
or gender fluid humans bearing equality,
space on buses for us all to share, and compassion, for the weary tech-crazed texters
tweeting birds, spreading their wings, like angels, letting go
of the straps of preconception
finding the flyways
the bus lines
finding
ways
home.



*translation from 'Becoming Nicole'
by Amy Ellis Nutt