Paul Groves
Chicken Kiev for One
She bends above the shining foil
- St Sophia’s under snow
Lit by moonlight or the glow
Of a Ukrainian afternoon
In winter. Thoughts do not defile
Her actions though they may do soon.
She rolls the breast in grated cheese,
Parsley and pepper. Seasoned flour
Coats it. A clock tells the hour
On Kreshchatik, Kiev’s main street.
I’ll do exactly as I please.
To eat alone is still to eat.
He could not stop me being me.
She beats the brains out of an egg,
Adds water, breadcrumbs. Life is big
And she is small. Her fingers waltz.
She hums. She smiles beatifically.
The matryoshkas (Russian dolls)
She bought at the Intourist shop
Watch calmly from the windowsill.
If thoughts could injure, hers would kill.
But why let bitter memories spoil
Delicious food? She bids them stop.
The chicken sinks through sizzling oil.
Page(s) 39
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