the littleman
with the hunchbackedback
creptto his feet
to offer his seat
to the blindlady
people gettingoff
steered carefully around
the black mound
of his back
as they would a pregnantbelly
the littleman
completely unaware
of the embarrassment behind
watched as the blindlady
fingered out her fare
***
muchlove later he suggested that instead
ofa wedding-cake they shouldhave a miniaturebus
made outof icing but she laughed
andsaid that buses werefor travelling in
and notfor eating and besides
you cant taste shapes.