A MOTHER AND HER DEAD CHILD.

A MOTHER RECALLS HER DEAD CHILD WHEN ALIVE.

Looking back
it seemed
the child

was not to be
always there,
not through lack

of love or care,
but something
that came to her

in dreams of dread
at night asleep in bed.
She tries to retake

in dreams
the child back,
to pretend

that through
wishful thinking
she can make up

the lack.
Arms fold
into cradle

as once they had
when child lay
in arm’s hold,

snuggled
and warm,
alive and moving,

seeking out with
eyes and fingers
her mother’s dug.

Rock-abye-baby
no more,
the arms

and hands
redundant,
the last time

she recalls
the dead child
in arms,

rocking
back and forth,
as if this might cure

and bring back
to life,
might stir open

eyes, jog open
lips and mouth
to suck.

Not to be
just the memory,
ill luck.