A Day at the Zoo
For Brenda
When I was lee and little My teen sister illustrated (and wrote dainty lines) a book for me Each image swept with Movement and bulgy A lady enjoying a day at the zoo. First and foremost I remember her solitudinal pleasure on a day at the zoo Second was the knobby knees Her knobby-kneed thick legs I will never forget And her hair bounced giddily in Golden curls just like my sister’s Then a marmalade picnic and Page after page of animals Christened in soft colored pencils My favorite was the elephant delighting in the gift of peanuts On that day I knew the elephant Was my spirit animal And it still is
-Jeni
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