“It’s someone you might know”
said the voice on the phone,
“Can you come round?
Ring back when convenient,
on this number - usual hours”.
At the mortuary a long metal tray
is slid out from the fridge:
The Attendant says “Another NFA!
This winter’s a killer!
though no worse than usual!”
The face is revealed;
the eyelids are stitched.
“Nothing to go on -
Can you say who it is?
The rats got the eyes!”
“Can I look at the clothes?
they might give a lead.”
“None found.” is the reply.
“In the muddy conditions
they had all rotted away.”
A last long look…
Then I turn aside;
the Attendant slides
the remains from sight.
In cold silence we look at
each other, our eyes say:
“It could be anybody.”
TOBIAS