Bus Ride on a Summer Night

Bus crammed, I squeeze and stumble to a seat,
Loathing the heat, rank sweat, and noise, so I
Turn my head, to stare at a cobalt sky
And miles of matching boxes on the street,
Which cuts to a new picture suddenly --
Black velvet crossed by lines of red and white
Shining beads, bright rosaries of light
Stretching past the horizon towards infinity . . .
I see the threads that run through every bead,
Each prayer and fear, each joy and agony,
Entangling into one humanity:
One flesh, one blood, from one uncommon seed --
It's passed; I shift, relax into my seat,
And breathe in human life, so warm, so sweet.