We open the window
Cold breeze rushes in
The dead-dearest averts her eyes
Chill blankets over the room
We shiver
The dead dearest is lying on a pallet in a far corner of the room
We’ve robed her in a white gown
We’ve wrapped her in a white sheet up to her chin
Her legs are trembling
We’ve braided her hair in two ropes on both sides of the face on the pillow
We open the other window, too
Chill clings into chill
The dead dearest turns slowly black & blue
We pull the sheet away a little
Push the gown a little up
We open her legs and enter
We sit up
Smooth her gown down
Pull the sheet up
We sit back
The dead dearest swells slowly
Sheets flap up, and flap a bit higher
We keep her legs ajar an’ grab on our off-springs
We arrange her legs side by side
Smooth the sheets over her legs
The dead dearest shivers
Babies shiver in the cold
We drink tea
We open the window
We let go of the babies over the jammed streets
We drink tea
The dead dearest is a dear one
We go to her
Pull the sheets away a little
Push the gown a little up
We open her legs and enter
The dead dearest swells up
We open the window
.
Saghi Ghahraman
Military Trail Scarborough Toronto 2002