“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