A Threnody for Josephine Mary.

             1

For one hour only
Snow lay upon the roof
And then the Autumn rains returned
To wash the slates clean.

The first night that we spent together
The temperature had dropped to zero
In the streets outside.
You lay as still as a sleeping cat
Snuggled by the fire
In a ball of fur.
Your hand curled under my hand.
Your warm breath brushing my shoulder.
Your heart tapping like a toy drum.
I held you as close as I dared in the rickety bed,
Held you and watched you melt into sleep
With a kind of nervous wonder.
               
               2.

Last Friday night our daughter was born
after five tough years of IVF treatment
that pushed your body almost to breaking point.-
For one hour only you held her in your arms.
For one hour only you hugged her tight and kissed her.
For one hour only she rested on your breast.

                3.

Baby died.
Mummy cried.
The neighbours` children played outside
as usual.

There are no healing words to say.
Words are meaningless today.

Baby died.
Mummy cried.
The neighbours` children played outside.
The world passed by
as usual.

There are no healing words to say.
Words are empty noise today.

Baby died.


Trevor John Karsavin Potter.
November 20th. - 21st. 2013. December 31st. 2013.
September 1st. - 2nd. 2014.- October 18th. 2015.