International Incidents

1.

Wang Ping asks if
we went to a seder
last night
               She did,
in Minneapolis
No, I say, we’re not
observant
as though we constantly
overlook details

2.

The teachers in the lounge
crowd around the
Swedish visitor
You must be very proud
one of them beams
to be Swedish
She has no idea
what that means
She says,
I don’t dislike
being Swedish

3.

Who’s ever met a Bulgarian?
he would shout in the bar
Then one night
two homely blond sisters
smiled and said
We are Bulgarians!
They smiled for two weeks
then went away forever

© 2006 Robert Hershon. By permission of Hanging Loose Press.