poetry

How to talk to strangers (and turn them into friends)

This week, poet and artist Frieda Hughes has an unforgettable meal with people she met on screen

Friday 04 October 2024 12:50 EDT
I am stumped to a halt in the company of people / Only ever seen on Zoom
I am stumped to a halt in the company of people / Only ever seen on Zoom (Getty Images)

LEFTOVERS

More food in a doggy bag for each meal I can’t finish,

In the company of people I’ve only ever met on Zoom.

They had travelled half the miles of the globe to attend

Meetings at mealtimes for half the days of the week

As strangers in a dining room. Untangling ourselves

Over salmon mousse, soup of the day, farmhouse pate

And stuffed mushrooms, we bonded over grilled steak

And chicken supreme, and explored possibilities

Over pumpkin risotto and venison Scotch eggs

As we passed the salt. At home, the tin foil packages

Multiplied unidentified on the shelves in my fridge,

So that every snack was a voyage of discovery.

I have no shame in taking what I’ve paid for

And would like to eat again; it’s a welcome reminder

Of a well-done meal and the women who were here,

If only by means of the belly pork slice and beef croquette

That I’ve re-eaten for breakfast now they’ve gone.

Sometimes I open a silver foil package to find

That I’ve forgotten which restaurant it came from,

And sometimes I share it with dogs.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in