To a Poor Old Woman

Vermeer: Milkmaid

munching a plum on
the street a paper bag
of them in her hand

They taste good to her
They taste good
to her. They taste
good to her

You can see it by
the way she gives herself
to the one half
sucked out in her hand



Comforted
a solace of ripe plums
seeming to fill the air
They taste good to her

C. Williams