Advance Directive

It’s as if 
you were on 
a bus and 
had to pull 
that cord
when it 
was time
to get 
off. STOP, 
PLEASE.

Of course, 
it’s raining, 
and you 
can’t see
out the window,
and the city 
is unfamiliar—
you’ve just 
moved there—  
and the driver 
is unhelpful.

Oh, mother, 
I know you’ve 
had enough.
Grab your 
purse and 
your shopping 
bags. Wave
to the kid
with the loud
music. STOP, 
PLEASE.

Ralph James Savarese | Provenance
Contents | Mudlark No. 82 (2025)