Dining with Relatives

I will ride
the clown’s bike for you
across your dining tables
    “Look! No hands!”
jinking round silver spoons napkins and cut glass.

I will ride
in smock and pantaloons
across the glaciers of good manners
    “See my funny hat!”
dodging crevasses.

I will ride
rigidly smiling
across the deserts of polite conversation
    “Hello HELLO!”
circumnavigating cacti.

(How can I ‘steer with my knees’
when Uncle Hugo’s hand is on them.....?)


Jill Boucher


If you have any thoughts on this poem, Jill Boucher would be pleased to hear them.