Roughing It In Europe

One two three four Is OK, but you need more: Un deux trois quat’ If you want a welcome mat En to tre fire With the krone getting dearer, Bir iki uç dirt Selling off your jeans or shirt Wahid zoozh teleta arba In a cafe by the harbour Üks kaks kolm neli For some food to fill your belly; Jeden dwa trzy cztery Language may be shaky, very, Uno dos tres cuatro But they’ll love you if you’re up to Eins zwei drei vier Trying freely, laughing freer. Published online in Unsplendid, February 2011

HITCHHIKER

Sometimes you’d sell your soul just to get warm! –
Your clothes are rags in the wind, your skin goes blue,
You doubt your mouth can ever smile again;
The lonely world grows dark before the storm
Whose icy rain’s a mile away… and then,
The sun breaks through!

Published: Candelabrum, UK, April 2009