Her previous enclosure was surrounded
by a wire mesh fence four metres high
and a low hedge, so she was used to seeing
big people from the knees up and small people
with heads only. Now she paces to and fro,
back and fore, in front of a plate glass
viewing window, as if on sentry-go.
We are a yard apart me and this fellow
being, whose shining bronze eyes slide away
each time they see mine. Every ten turns or so
she stops,
HINDSIGHT
A SENTIMENTAL EDUCATION
ON FIRST READING ‘THE GULAG ARCHIPELAGO’
A SENTIMENTAL EDUCATION
BIRTHDAY GIRL UNDER HOUSE ARREST