Overcast
Some light rain pushed through by the cool north-easterly
Traffic moderate with the schools still off
She sat on the bus stop bench under the shelter
Tidy raincoat, hat and shopping bag
Waiting for the bus to the city
Leads for her two patient, slightly heavy, dogs in her hand
Then she just rolled off the bench to her right
Clump! Onto the damp pavement
Motionless
A younger woman
The only other person at the bus stop
Turned from her phone screen
Put it away immediately and moved toward the body
For that was what the dog lady had become
At the bus stop
After the passing rain
No drone
No bomb
Nor bullet
No street gang stabbing
Just lights out in broad daylight
At Eight-Seventeen in the morning
Her dogs waiting patiently for their next instruction
Sitting, waiting, watching
As the No 14 turned the corner and rose into view
~
CLP 21/08/2025
Journey of Words 