The conductor was the only one nice to him
He was the only one begging people to sit beside the bubbleman
It might be because he wanted his full fare before setting off
Or he just might have been an angel for the bubbleman
The conductor was the only one nice to the bubbleman
He didn’t collect fare from the bubbleman
I could have sat down beside the bubbleman
I chose not to
Even though I knew it was just a tumor
I knew it couldn’t affect me
I had seen it on television
I knew it could only be passed on by birth
Still
Still I didn’t sit
I chose to be like the others
I call them illerates cause they didn’t know
They didn’t bother to know
They just discriminated
I, The literate one
I didn’t sit
I chose to be a coward
To sit behind
So I wouldn’t get touched
So I wouldn’t feel
So I wouldn’t cringe
I stared
I stared throughout the ride
I stared at the huge lumps peeking from behind his curly hair
I stared at his fingers when he wanted to pay the fare
I stared at his face through the mirror
I saw I downcast he felt
But I chose to stare at the damage the tumor had done
His face
His face was falling
A huge mast had taken over him
Taken his identity
I wonder if it itched
If it burned
I wonder if he had accepted it
I wonder what doctors had told him
I wonder if they told him there was a half cure
Surgery was a half cure
A life time of surgery
Bubbleman
Dear bubbleman
I’m sorry
I just couldn’t sit
I know I’m supposed to love
My Father loved
My created created
I just couldn’t
I’m so sorry
Maybe if we meet again
I’d be able to
Written by: ADEBANKE FALADE