IN LONDON, ENGLAND, Briefly
the pelican in St. James Park
allows one old man
to put an arm around its neck
they sit side by side
every afternoon
cheek to glazed cheek
indifferent to the world squawking by©Anna Mioduchowska
this poem first appeared in Whetstone Spring 94
POOR RELATION AT THE DINNER TABLE
the only snag
to being taken in
by a kindly aunt
is you never know
what you will find
in you soup
should the times grow lean
the soup thin
and your cousins begin to weigh
every mouthful you lift
to your lipsand it matters not
that you take on extra chores
that your work may be neat
or finished ahead of time
every smile from your aunt
every penny earned
only doubles your chances
of another uncertain meal
©Anna Mioduchowska
this poem first appeared in CV2Winter 96
WASHING MY MOTHER'S FEET
one perfect chanterelle
sprouts from each of your toes
each foot a family
firm mum irregular dad
a cluster of glabrous babies
playing in the sudsone little two little
three yellow mushrooms
reach out through the fruity steam
four little five little
ten fibrillose toes in need
of a good scrub©Anna Mioduchowska
MEDITATION
November morning mist
blossoms with daffodil yellowsmall dog
peeing into a sunbeam