At the grave in Daigny

Inspired by the death of my grandmother-in-law

She is not there, Lorette

Yet inexplicably she's there

1 metre 20cm down

She is somehow there

But it is written Laure

So it must be a mistake!

No, I am told, it is her

Below the marble plate

Oh, dear Lorette

How we're loathe to accept

The distance between us

To where your body rests

Who let the earth have you?

Who decides it this way?

The soil can go hungry

We forbid your decay

Nor can God take you

Despite all these crosses

He was never on your side

So why take the side of your coffin?

Only the past can claim you

As it claimed all your words

Exotic Tunisian tales

Masking a childhood of hurt

But not the cruel nuns

Who only taught you to see

Why in their religion

Forgiveness is key

And not the blundering Nazis

So intolerant of your blood

You beat them with your feet

All through France you trudged

No, Lorette is safe now

Laid to rest in our hearts

Where we cradle her memory

And the strength it imparts

Author's Note

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