Archive Columns: City Living

Six Quatrains on the Local Bus Driving Habits

Consider the mounting spleen
Of the mighty SEPTA driver
Who, though the light was green,
Had to stop to take a rider.

Whilst up the fare did clamber
The light advanced to yellow,
The very shade of amber

That might stop a normal fellow.

But the driver showed his mettle
And moved the righter of his shoes
Over to the rightmost pedal
Before the light would turn to rouge.

Alas, in actuality,
The stoplight beat him to it.
"The merest technicality,"
He said, and then went through it.

"All mortals  may go on a green," he said
"And yellow (though strictly that's wrong),
But the SEPTA driver may go through red
If it hasn't been red very long."

Citizens!  Pay attention
To the drive r's revelations:
From certain tired conventions
SEPTA's given dispensations

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