You imagine
she still lies there,
still having made love
has that satisfied look,

that we did it
once more gaze.
All gone now,
all in former days.

The house has long
been sold, others
live there now;
the bed long gone,

gone for scrap
or firewood,
at least that
wooden frame.

You think on
that peasant way she had,
the lifting up
of legs and thighs,

the brightening up
of those liquid eyes,
the play of smile
upon her lips,

then love making over
and resting side by side,
that sense of
we did it again,

a little adolescent pride.
Death had her marked out
even then you guess,
cancer making plans

of conquest,
ticking time,
the clocks all set,
an all off certain bet.

And yet,
still you think her there,
laying abed,
eyes bright,

legs and thighs lifted,
the lips pursed
to kiss,
all love talent gifted.

Gone now,
some resting place
marked and squared off
for some to see,

flowers bought and laid,
attention and respect paid;
but where she's rested
you don't know,

no last farewell,
no last kiss
nor given
nor made, you're afraid.