Walking the Animals

She lets out her animals down by the canal
when no one is looking. Opens the hinged
ribs under her coat saying come on now
sweethearts, out you come, come out quickly!

It's the giraffe she has trouble with, his neck
or his shin getting stuck in her throat,
but she hopes he'll unfold to a canter
and there'll be no vomiting. The parrot

and the carp, nippy little twisters, can tie
her in knots with their double-act around
the toes of the wordless rhinoceros,
but she's not daft, she keeps her eyes

on his horn. How light she is, she has to hold
onto the branches when the cacophony starts.
What holds her attention is the fury of the midges
...