Angry Eating. Poem by PAUL COLVIN

I watched her chewing nervously, her mouth in convulsions
Eyes darting, continuously, left – right – upward
Her neck surging forward, often, as though chasing her gum
Occasionally gulping then choking, she eats in fits and starts.
Her swivelling head can’t keep still yet she, is quite motionless
- from below the neck.
But that long skinny neck, like a mini giraffe is edging ever closer to me
Her jaws shudder, face vibrates, I think she chews her teeth!
Her fingers tap to every chew, like the beat of a drum
Gnawing, gnashing, chomping, chewing, biting at her food
I could hear her, like a starving squirrel, even when I’d gone
Forty minutes I had watched and saw no sign of food.