Making A Stand

One girl, private school-pupil, made a stand, The bus was full, no one gave up a seat But her, a gesture kindly and unplanned The pensioner she helped thought she was grand, From comprehensive pupils, one deadbeat. Gobbed on the girl's braids, racist fire brand. The girl was black. It seemed he wished her banned From public transport. I looked at my feet No-one berated him, no help at hand. The rest of us, too cowed to reprimand Him, looked away, like subjugated sheep She stood stock still, accustomed to withstand. We should have asked the driver to command The thug to leave the bus and hit the street His jeering gang all had the upper-hand An unjust world, when life's ruled by the damned