soon
after heaven
took
so much
we stood
in the padded
room
where once
our mother
stood-

shreds of gowns
still unsettled
teased our hair
grey-

nothing
between us
we hugged
as two
late arriving
wraiths-

you bent
for the head
of a black
pushpin
but thought
better
to leave it

     whether eye or mouth
     we’d have to see
the doll