The Hawk Kitchen 10:45am
When I was a not-so-little girl
I sucked My Thumb watching
Cowboys & Indians on My Father’s TV
until one night My Red-headed Step Sister
tied My Right Wrist to an iron bed post
with thick green yarn
–
Now I eat a daily banana
in My Back Yard
in My Bath Robe
& aim the peels
between the spaces
within the leafy — in summer —
hedge
The Hawk Kitchen 5:00pm
What Is This Language
of What I Perceive?
A Crow alighting on a tree tip
then flying BACK
to where He came from
but that was a while ago
I hear The Fridge
I see The Silver on My Wrists
A Cat who’s very fat
is unable to clean Her Butt
I remember My Brother
gulping down pop or tea
as if He couldn’t get enough
I do the same
The Hawk West Desk Window 11:30am
There’s A Boy
in My Basement —
I saw Him standing on My Red Rug
holding a big brown Limited Edition
of Gulliver’s Travels
tucked under His Chin
with His Beguiling Look
He told Me It was His Favourite
of All His Books
The Tomato-coloured Couch 4:45pm
I could paint on the floor
on raw canvas
on the concrete floor of Hunter’s soon-to-be Library
& sell My Paintings
for $10,000 each
–
6:42pm
I’ve taken to making bread
kneading the dough with My Left Hand
holding the bowl with My Right
against a cushioned wrought-iron Ottoman
positioned between My Knees
like an Alewife
The Hawk Kitchen 1:45pm
I have My Real Kitchen Witch now:
The Ceramic Head of My Dark Haired Woman
baked in High School Art Class
when Her Face fell off
Miss Hues helped Me fit Her Forehead, Chin
Right Eye & Cheek, Left Eye & Cheek
back together, glazed & glued
now to watch over Me
— halo hat intact —
above My Kitchen Corner Cupboard
as if Her Body is There contained
The Hawk Dining Room 10:38pm
Lil’ Miss Joanna Banana
carried Her Bunch of Bananas
to the front check-out at Sobey’s
but only One Line was open
& It was full
Lil’ Joanna Banana was in a hurry
so She thought of The Other Store
& put The Bunch back
(She thought of stealing a single banana for breakfast
but Lil’ Miss Joanna Banana was too honest)
She exited Sobey’s in Her 2004 Escape
& drove to Martin’s No Frills
where His Logo is a Bunch of Bananas
so Lil’ Joanna Banana picked out a bunch
(& One to eat in The Car)
She didn’t have to wait at the check-out
She clutched Her Bunch
against Her Dressy Knee-length Black Spring Coat
and walked along The Front
of The Yellow & Black
Store Front
The West Desk Window 9:55pm
when I was a child
I had a fantasy
of getting locked inside
a grocery store
overnight
free to eat anything my heart desired
& do you know what I picked?
I picked apple sauce
The Tomato-coloured Couch 6:33pm
How not to change lives & still sleep
in 3 easy steps:
1) Buy 22 Bars of Silver & lock Them in The Bank
2) Don’t buy a funny-shaped House on The Hawk
to rent to Kristine Zoodedoo
or Hunter’s Secretary
Who said She would move to The Hawk
like a tornado
3a) Don’t ask Your Daughter repeatedly
for Her Opinion on kitchen design features
3b) Eat left-over macaroni
& drink plenty of water out of the tap
of Your Tawdry Fridge
Joanna Gilman Hyde 