Quail
Love approaches
in a small vessel
laced with sweet beads of oil
and edible flora.
Its split feet land
on a bed of basil and crushed
yam. This meal
is what our forks are for
what our adult teeth are for
what the wine in its decanter
has been waiting for. If you
fall asleep in the middle of this I
won't mind because night time
is the gravy boat
that pours our little heads
onto their pillows.
Ben Ladouceur was an editor for In/Words magazine during the 2008/2009 academic year. His poetry has been featured in several publications including The Moose & Pussy, Ottawater, Sugar Mule and Cake Magazine (forthcoming). He was shortlisted for the John Newlove Poetry Award (2008) and was runner-up for the George Johnston Poetry Prize twice (2007 and 2009). His two chapbooks, Alert (Angel House Press) and The Argossey (Apt. 9 Press) were both released in September 2009.