The Form

SURNAME ?

Collins, double l.

With a stroke of pen I went 

from Kovalski to conformity.

NAME?

Eva

The only remnant of far away lands,

where seasons are back to front,

and squirrels run up linden trees

instead of possums on gums.

DOB ? 

20 January 46

It should have been February,

but I came early,

with the cord around my neck.

My mother didn’t think I’d make it.

PLACE OF BIRTH?

Poland

The hospital in ruins, medicines only for those with dollars,

‘Business is business’, they said, ‘ neonatal or not’.

ADDRESS ?

Leafy suburbia – with a swimming pool at the back.

No sign of struggle here.

Picture– perfect.

SIGN HERE 

Which name? 

The real one, which endured danger?

Or this one, safe and anonymous?

My pen dries up.

I take another

and sign in 

red.

Eva Collins