come to me corgis come to me
from conquered vale mountain and stream
oh the slaves the spices the silver and gold
come see the kingdoms I have won for you
leap and frolic and bark by my side
come to me corgis come to me
they do our bidding this grand biddy’s bidding
oh the slaves the sugar the spices and gold
see how the wild Celts the Scots and the rest
leap and frolic and run by my side
they keel over my loves they kneel to me
do our bidding this grand biddy’s bidding
come sit in my tartan-clad lap come sit come sit
see how the wild Celts the Scots and the rest
as I sip my tea from my very own lands
keel over my loves how they kneel to me
and who will love you when your mum mum is gone
come sit in my tartan-clad lap come sit come sit
when your mum is gone who will coddle you
as I leave behind my tea from my very own lands
my children may bicker over my jewels my billions
but who will love you when your mum mummy is gone
more valuable than those who built our wealth with death
oh when your mum is gone who will cuddle you
my old son will inherit the crown my lackeys and land
children may bicker over my minions my billions
but who will I leave my little ones to oh my little ones
more valuable than those who built our wealth with death
see my children bicker over my minions my billions
but oh the slaves we’ll always have the silver the gold
come to me my corgis come to me
more precious than the Kohinoor my priceless silence
Zilka Joseph was born in Mumbai, lived in Kolkata, and now lives in Michigan. Her work is influenced by Indian and Western cultures, and her Bene Israel roots. Her poems have appeared in Poetry Magazine, Kenyon Review Online, Asian Literary Review, The Bombay Literary Review, as well as several international anthologies. Her chapbook Sparrows and Dust won a Notable Best Indie Book Award and was Notable Asian American Poetry Book. Her books Sharp Blue Search of Flame and In Our Beautiful Bones were Foreword INDIES prize finalists. Sweet Malida, her new collection of poems and prose, was published in the US in February, 2024. www.zilkajoseph.com
