the child stands at the door
the kitchen is warm
smells of fresh milk and tea
mother grandmother aunt
talk mention
‘the small dark woman’-
notice the child listening
looks of fear and knowing exchange
grandmother scolds
says: ‘you better watch
that one’.

that one
lies on the earth
under the hills hoist
listening and feeling
the cool damp softly humming
earth. From time to time
she opens her eyes.
White clouds mist the blue.
She rises knowing
that to bring back the dead
is a slow and gentle thing.