"black veil blues #1"

black veil blues #1

and her?
she was born a widow
pushed out into this world
bawling and broken

she was alone before you knew her
before she knew you
knew your body
blood beating
pulsing praying pushing
and cold
still
ash on her fingers
ash in the wind

before that, she was alone.
children played at house
cops and robbers
bonnie and clyde
she practised loneliness
until it was an art

after you knew her
she drew the curtains shut
let no light in
held the memory of it in her hands
smelled myrrh
let it run between her fingers
nails lacquered to a high black shine
stored in enamel boxes
wept on fridays

she was born a widow.
the gift you gave her?
realisation of her self
blossoming whole
dead browning bloom


Mairi Graham-Shaw
© 2015


Image links to its source on Wiki Commons
Else Sehrig-Vehling: “Drawing of a Woman” - undated.
Wiki Commons asserts Public Domain