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Life Eternal

Her fingers were speckled like
brown chickens eggs.
They felt both hard and soft,
sticks in tissue paper.
Her veins were ruptured; rivers
on a decaying landscape.

The room was hot and dark
and smelled of ancient secrets.
Grannie's smell; I wrinkled my nose.
She tried to smile through
her agony, to make me less
afraid as I fidgeted in the chair.

"Be a good boy for your mother"

Her gossamer voice, barely audible
had reached across time and touched me.
"She needs you son, look after her"
I nodded, bewildered by this mystery
but full of dreadful wonder.

"Are you dying Nannie?" Sotto voce.
"Mummy says for me to kiss you"
"Come then son, kiss me on the cheek"
I was hesitant and afraid. She lifted my
child's hand and gently touched it
with bloodless yet tender lips.

"Are you dying Nannie?I don't want
you to die".The tears welled unbidden.
"No my child. How can I die when
I live on through you, my beautiful
Grandson. My life is rich, and eternal."
I did not understand and was uncertain.

Next day brought an empty bed and
and a world of empty hearts.
Now a lifetime on, it is I in the room
waiting for the circle to turn.
I drift in morphine haze and
pray my Granddaughter will understand

I hear the tiny tap on the door and
try to smile so she is not afraid.
She enters, thumb in mouth
and I want to cry for her. I try
to speak but can only croak. I
reach out and see that my fingers
are like brown speckled eggs

Learn more about this author, Archie Wilson.
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