Immigrants
IMMIGRANTS
Used to play cards Friday evening in Dublin
With immigrant Soviets who had come west to work..
Guy mopping the floor in hotel café used to be
A scientist in some Soviet space program.
Took my breath away.
One woman was the ex-head nurse of
The Accident and Emergency unit
In a major Kiev hospital, specializing in eye injuries -
She could save your injured eye and save your life.
She was a toilet cleaner in the hotel.
Took my breath away
A bed-maker in the hotel was an ex-mathematician
From a university in Minsk. I did some card tricks.
He could understand the tricks purely mathematically
And could predict the exact card statistically.
Took my breath away.
The waitress in the café where we used to meet
Had been a teacher of handicapped children in Moscow.
How is this waste of talent possible
In a world where the needs of many are not met ?
Takes my breath away.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
