On the Bus

A man was reading on the bus;
His book was in his lap.
Another passenger appeared
To take a little nap.

But they were the exceptions
For, together or alone,
The vast majority I saw
Were staring at a phone.

They tapped or swiped or listened,
So intent upon the screen
That they wouldn’t notice if a group
Of Martians would convene.

It was so not so long ago when phones
Could not be carted ‘round,
So riders read or they conversed
And daydreams did abound.

Yet ride a bus today and what
Will get a second look
Is not the folks on phones but yes,
The one who reads a book.