Her lips dried and cracked

Like candle wax

Thick bloated and puce

 summon up a smile

showing off her eyes

swallowed up by the dark shells

 that surround them

hiding some long lost truth  

 

Her skin as dry as parchment

Crisp and faded brown

Reveals a vague pulse

Beneath the purple veil

And the silver crown

 

Her smile flickers

An almost used up flame

 As she remembers

A life of stories once hidden

waiting to escape

now all too late

 

Yet the eyes still marvel

With every last breath

All that they still see

Her heart so tired and worn

Remains soft pliable and happy

Soon to be free

 

Beneath the cage of her rattling breast

She does not complain

Not even for an artery hardened

Like her bedroom furniture

A walnut wardrobe

Tall boy and chest

 

The sepia photograph on the wall

Reflects all and nothing of

 The young figures who try not to smile

On that day

A long white dress and veil

Arm in arm with a Khaki uniform

 

No thought given to his return

Of course he would

He was going with his pals

There were no worries no concerns

Before he left the seed had been sown

Leaving a life a love that

Like a fever forever burns

 

And now all the years later

The tired eyes

Look once more

Upon the happy couple

Wishing they were still here

Wishing she had known him as well

As her mother

 

Just one more time

For them to draw close, to be near

To say go to sleep now child

And goodnight

Before her last farewell