travel

Ayran and kebabs in Antalya
Horchata and tacos en Aguas
Milktea and duck in Beijing
Chocolate and Gruyère in Switzerland
Baguettes and onion soup in Paris
Vienerschnitzel and spatzl in Vienna
Goulash and elderflower in Budapest;

Light hair, green eyes, pale skin
Among hijab and dark beards
Stocky sombreros and tiny bellezas
Almond eyes and black hair
Tall mountains and quiet streets
High fashion and cobblestone
Beer and bratwurst
Citadels and folkdances;

An American abroad.

[Standing out
Like a carrot in a pile of cucumbers
In the wide bed of a pick-up
Driven by farmers who like to stare
At a white woman passing by, at an American abroad]

\ lea /

linked arms

Linked arms walk slowly through crowded Beijing streets;
Grey head crowned with straw hat leans gently,
Inclining to hear the words from under a purple parisol,
Coming slowly from another grey head, crowned with carefully woven bun.

Her flannel shirt comes down over wide-cut, cuffed-once jeans
That reveal sky blue low-top sneakers.
Glasses peer from under the straw of his hat; free hand carries brown satchel;
It surely belongs to she with whom he has linked arms.

They are ten times slower than all the rest of traffic,
Yet they carry on,
With arms linked for support
And grey head inclined to hear.

\ lea /