The ride back felt longer.
I didn’t trust it.
Anxiety told my little mind
something would go wrong.
Same dingy Greyhound bus.
Same ragged seats.
Same tired engine
dragging us north out of Missouri.
But something had shifted.
I kept thinking about my room,
my toys lined up where I left them,
friends I hadn’t seen in months
like they might’ve forgotten me.
School waiting
like a slow sentence
nobody could outrun.
Out the window—
the land started changing.
Less sky.
More signs.
Gas stations,
faded billboards,
towns stacked close together
like they needed each other—
Ankeny, Altoona.
I sat up straighter
when things started
to feel familiar again.
A building I’d seen before.
A road that bent the right way.
That old Raccoon River
by Tech High School.
Des Moines
getting closer.
Ready for my wild footsteps
and feral heart.
My brother said,
“I hope Mom’s there.”
I just nodded
and said,
“She will be.”
The bus slowed.
Air brakes sighed
like it had done its job
and didn’t care what came next.
People stood up too early,
grabbing bags,
like getting off first
meant something.
I stayed seated
a second longer.
Just in case.
Then I stepped off
into that familiar heat.
That diesel smell
was a friend this time around.
And there it was—
her beige Nova
sitting in the parking lot.
And then I saw Mom—
dimly through the dirty window,
standing in that quilted
rose-colored jacket,
a Virginia Slim dangling
between her fingers.
My heart settled.
-
Author:
Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: April 28th, 2026 08:54
- Comment from author about the poem: New long-form poetry reading on YouTube—featuring work from Aluminum Cowboys and a sneak peek from Searching for Nod. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNzeVyF51Og Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=xsU45&content
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Teddy.15, arqios, Kevin Hulme, Poetic Licence
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Comments6
Truly mesmerized by this imagery and at the end seeing your mum and appreciating her. Well that's worth gold. 🌹
Thank you. sweet Teddy.
A beautiful piece, Thomas this one reminds me of long trips on buses and trains that I took as a child watching passing countryside, towns and billboards country roads all rocking me to sleep on the journey. Nicely done my friend.
Thank you. Much appreciated.
You are most welcome Thomas
Seems Greyhound buses were were an inseparable part of your childhood. I'm glad you gave me the opportunity to go on these trips. The detail looms large and I feel I've been on many such journeys with you.
Enjoyed the rides.
Thanks, Dave.
...the shape of this poem is a travel companion both to the mind and the heart. A true joy to experience. 🕊️🙏
Thank you.
Welcome.
A Person can read this and see somethings from their own Lives.
Traveling back Home and seeing familiar Buildings is Universal.
A fine write.
Thanks, Kevin.
This is wonderful and touching to read, there are reminders in there for everyone for the journeys they have been on, but more importantly what is important in life to a child, pleasure to read.
Thank you.
Your welcome
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