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