Zoo children

they met outside
regents park zoo
he was on time and smoking
a cigarette
which he hid as they approached

no bad habits for them

he wandered if he smelt of
baccy
but they didn't seem to care

it was bigger than he
recalled
and they loved every
inch of the place

they bought him a nodding
monkey which he thought
was a lion
which made them laugh
and point at him

briefly he remembered others
doing that to him at school
for other misdemeanors
but there was no malice here
and he liked this place

the aquarium was cold and
empty
void of others
he wandered why fish
weren't more popular
he liked the sea horses
seemed like they were wierd
small ballet dancers

but he couldn't stay long
he was yanked in another
direction by the youngest
who seemed to have claimed him

he whirled past the animal kingdom
and then ate some chips
and popped a coke

as the sun met the horizon
they had to go
and he kissed them in turn
and waved as they left with
their mum and dad

he probably wouldn't go to
the zoo

again