Drawing by Judith Wolfe
Betty Ann Matthews

Poem


      SOLEMN EYES

      The seagulls are famished
      As usual and they are
      Gathering

      I retain my chips, break:
      Them into scanty pieces
      'To ensure the entire
      Community are sufficed

      But there is always the
      Grumpy one, the hungry
      Vulture, who chases the
      Others away

      I try to have him ingest
      As much as he can to en­
      Able him to lose his
      Sullenness

      Then there are the ducks,
      Sparrows, tuis, fantails,
      Pukekos, robin red breasts,
      Yellow tits

      Sometimes I leave the
      Seaside and return to
      The fish shop for seconds

      When I do I conceal my­
      Self beneath vast trees
      And bushes on a park
      Bench

      I become wolfish until
      My appetite is spent,
      Slwnber on the avail­
      Able grass mat provided
      Only to awaken to the
      Solemn eyes of the
      Seagulls...


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