It was a public madness:

comments not making sense, snow-flaking words on photos shared by friends of friends.

Oblique comments passed by lookers on. ‘WTF’s she on about?’ and ‘get her tole’ and passive vaguings mentioning getting better  for the kids.

 And I sit and mourn her while she lives. Watch it huge and vast.

Remembering my own lost year

and feel a little anxious about the grip

we have or don’t

on what’s important.

And how it’s everyone’s business when someone slips under

and we all have a chance to spread a glib greeting that is seen to be both kind and harsh.

Ranks us up according to our charity or warmth or common sense

and how it’s no-bodies business when she walls it over, cold as wind from the beach

hard as frozen mud and as pitted.

And dribbles mistyped shots at conversation

transcending rhythm, chronology or sense.

She bobbles,

just ahead,

head swelled large and helium.

Look-

I can see her floating down the lane.