Bus Trip of a Black God | Teen Ink

Bus Trip of a Black God MAG

February 25, 2009
By Devon Johnson BRONZE, Phoenix, Arizona
Devon Johnson BRONZE, Phoenix, Arizona
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Skinny, black man
Cruising on the Valley Metro
Rambling on about black God, black heaven, black Savior, black world
I listen to what he says for half an hour.
I’m intrigued.
I put my headphones away
And listen …
Every so often, he hums
“Hhhmmmm”
And when he does you don’t see it coming
It makes you feel good inside.
“Hhhmmmm”
When you think it’s not over, he rings the bell
Ring, ring
The bus stops
He’s gone as quickly as he came.



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This article has 74 comments.


AnnieB. BRONZE said...
on May. 18 2009 at 3:11 am
AnnieB. BRONZE, Kingston, Other
3 articles 0 photos 4 comments
Mysterious.Very(Hmm.....??).I like it!

on Apr. 28 2009 at 1:26 am
GoldenGirl PLATINUM, Vashon, Washington
41 articles 31 photos 116 comments
jeez...some people are harsh. It's not very often that a poem really speaks to me, but this one I think had a deeper meaning to it. I think that you look beyond what's on the surface, whether you realize it or not...

KingMob said...
on Apr. 23 2009 at 6:48 pm
I really like this poem. A lot, or at least some, of these comments were upset because the man talked about a black god, saying no one knows what color God is. I interpreted your poem as about the personal nature of god; everyone has their own thoughts about god, and the man on the bus expressed his.

on Apr. 18 2009 at 2:44 pm
Th3k!DWr!tE5 BRONZE, Chicago, Illinois
4 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
Onward ever, backward never<br /> - My dad

I find this piece quite interestin it paints nice picture in my mind and reveals message that is great. Great Job!!! comment on mine plz

on Apr. 14 2009 at 9:24 pm
AndThisIsReal PLATINUM, Broadalbin, New York
31 articles 0 photos 81 comments

Favorite Quote:
Dans chaque fil il y a un debut.

I'm sorry but I dont like this very much at all.

Let me start by saying I am open minded and excepting of all people, doesnt matter the gender, race, oreintation, ect.

But.....

I don't understand why you would be intrigued by the ramblings of a man going on about the race of god, the saviour, ect.

No one knows what God actaully looks like, it shouldn't be the face of God that is intriguing, but instead what he is and has done.

Thats whats important.

Eh'.

on Apr. 10 2009 at 3:48 pm
WithWings BRONZE, Senatobia, Mississippi
1 article 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;A bird doesn&#039;t sing because he has the answer. He sings because he has a song.&quot; -Maya Angelou

this is one of the best poems I've read on here. bravo! I can't describe it with words, it's just too hard. :)

DoLL_F@C3 said...
on Apr. 7 2009 at 8:20 pm
DoLL_F@C3, Memphis, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;FORGIVING YESTERDAY, LIVING FOR TODAY, NOT WORRIED BOUT TOMORROW.&quot; Doll

I LOVE THIS POEM IT WAS WONDERFUL.

on Apr. 4 2009 at 2:35 pm
sminor09 PLATINUM, Garden, Michigan
33 articles 2 photos 3 comments
I love the images you poem brings into my mind. It brings me back into a time when the past was just as interesting as the present. And it was really well written. Awesome stuff

Eryn Flint said...
on Apr. 1 2009 at 7:09 pm
Eryn Flint, New Castle, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
One of the things I really like about this poem is the way it ends so abruptly- like it's drawing a connection to the abrupt end of the man's one sided conversation. In my view, the things that make a poem are good imagery and a good ending, and this poem has both.

Thanks for publishing it!

on Apr. 1 2009 at 6:26 pm
ryangallagher BRONZE, Cincinnati, Ohio
4 articles 2 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.&quot; -- Albert Einstein

if this means what i think it means then i love it! this kind of topic is mysterious, but worth thinking about. I love the way you depicted it.

on Mar. 31 2009 at 8:29 pm
Precious BRONZE, Troy, Michigan
3 articles 0 photos 30 comments
Its so frustrating to me that I cant grasp the meaning of this poem. I've been rereading it for the last 10 minutes and still...nothing. Can you please explain?

on Mar. 31 2009 at 7:01 pm
Fataldoseofirony BRONZE, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment
this is a very good poem, leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat wondering what exactly is the meaning, what happens in the end. if you have the time check out my poems. i'm new to the site so i could use some constructive criticism.

on Mar. 29 2009 at 1:55 am
CloudedCrystal SILVER, Florissant, Missouri
6 articles 0 photos 23 comments
As I am CloudedCrystal, I love things with mystery, and this was it. Deep. Weather who believes in god or not, and what race, this poem remains DEEP. I FEEL it. From one so clouded, ur good. To evoke the kind of feedback that u do, u must be good.

Escaped GOLD said...
on Mar. 28 2009 at 11:37 pm
Escaped GOLD, Litchfield, Illinois
19 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Lets go make daisy chains in the grass, but only if its 74 degrees or above. I would like to fall in love with you.&quot; (:

I completely understand where you are coming from on this one. People of today base God on what we want to be.

That is sort of how it is actually. People of today, wanting only things to be seen their way. Oh o course no one would actually admit to it but it is ntirely true.

I do ike this poem. Very outspoken. Not most would do this type of writing without a second though of judgement. I do like this, very different. Its govermental and yet has society involved. As if you were simply listening to the african-american boy, ... and agreeing with him because God is who God is. And no matter how many facts and how many thoughts and "good sounding guesses" you will never actually know-we won't ever know-until he comes for himself. Then we shall see. Then you will see. What and who God is. But should it really matter the form? He loves and created you. To me... that really is enough.

on Mar. 28 2009 at 4:23 pm
akissi dayato BRONZE, New Orleans, Louisiana
2 articles 0 photos 2 comments
i really love the story and emotions u are trying to drop

peace1994 said...
on Mar. 28 2009 at 1:41 am
ok heres the thing its wierd and good i mean the first time i read it i thought it was a waste of my time but then the second time it hit me hard antiways its one of those love or hate poems and ili. oh hey wrld

on Mar. 27 2009 at 6:20 pm
Czar.Twon BRONZE, Gainesville, Florida
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments
i like,

God is whatever you want him to be

red, blue, black, or red....

its how you see him

me personally being African American

i would see God as being black too...

Piscis BRONZE said...
on Mar. 26 2009 at 11:52 am
Piscis BRONZE, London, Other
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
life is for living

This is an odd pice and unfortunateley i dont understand it but i guess its okish

ssophiaa GOLD said...
on Mar. 24 2009 at 8:38 pm
ssophiaa GOLD, Falls Church, Virginia
17 articles 0 photos 52 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;You cannot operate from a concern of how you&#039;re perceived.&quot;<br /> --Kevin Kittle

This is weird, but good. Maybe because I'm white, I don't get the meaning being this, but it is very interesting and good.

on Mar. 19 2009 at 7:24 pm
Whitlock BRONZE, Cottonwood, Arizona
2 articles 10 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
Something good always comes from something bad.

perhaps I didn't understand the poem but I took black in the literal since of ethnicity and I find this poem to be either slightly racist or perhaps very sinister.