Mr Martlew

would you mind

if I sit awhile here

in the shade on my own,

you hushed in your hole,

in the valley of the shadow?

Shall I re-draw life

in the black lines etched above your bones?

Did it hurt?

Were you scared?

Do the stones weigh heavy?

Do they creak beneath the roses

and the green glass gravel?

Did it hurt?

Were you scared?

Were you ready

or not?

 

Mr Martlew

do you mind

if I sit awhile here?

Trace in the present tense

lichening past.

Walk through the valley of the shadow.

Then furrow in your full name,

husband and son.

Did it hurt?

Were you scared?

Are you there?

Can you see?

We can play I Spy

if you like

(just pretend).

Did it hurt?

Were you scared?

Were you ready

or not?

 

Mr Martlew

do you mind

if I sit awhile here

all alone, with your dust

and your teeth and your bones?

Through the valley of the shadow.

Did it hurt?

Thou art

Did they catch you

with me.

Did they kill you in the end?

We can play hide and seek

if you like

(just pretend).

Did it hurt?

Were you scared?

Were you ready

or not?

 

Photo courtesy of Richard Nixon, at Rich Pictures 

https://www.facebook.com/richpicturesphotography?ref=br_tf