Life Eternal

Life Eternal
Her fingers were speckled like
brown chicken’s 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.
Granny’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 Nanny?” 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 Nanny? 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


Archie Wilson