By the Shore

by Rose Maloukis

I see them on the news
arriving by boat loads
famished, barely able to stand

I see them –

Those people,
those children
put to bed without food
though I don’t know how it’s possible
to sleep, that is, or

what to do…
I am comfortable, happy, sated
here in my kitchen by the shore
What do I know of hunger?

I see them –

Honey – orange juice and zest
set beside the bowl

Curtains billow, a wineglass of dark rum
Grease the pan, preheat the oven – clic…clic…clic

chopped dates, raisins, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg,
cloves, vanilla, a pinch of sea breeze

a wineglass of dark, the coming tide

clic…clic…clic, heat, boil, cool, mix, add,
add enough, add more –

crème fraîche

carrots in cake, why not?
let them eat, please

feed them as they clamor from the sea.
Help me,
I can’t do loaves and fishes.

View the PDF version of “By the Shore.”

---

Rose Maloukis is a poet and visual artist.  She has a BFA from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. She was born and grew up in the United States but has made her home in Montreal since 1986. Her poetry was last published in a limited edition bilingual artist’s book, From the Middle – Sonoritiés du Coeur, which is held in the collection of both the national and provincial libraries.