In the Bus

Somewhere between Greenfield and Holyoke
snow became rain
and a child passed through me
as a person moves through mist
as the moon moves through
a dense cloud at night
as though I were cloud or mist
a child passed through me

On the highway that lies
across miles of stubble
and tobacco barns our bus speeding
speeding disordered the slanty rain
and a girl with no name       naked
wearing the last nakedness of
childhood breathed in me
once       no
once      two breaths
a sigh she whispered        Hey you
begin again
Again?
again          again         you'll see
it's easy         begin again          long ago

--Grace Paley