Audacious and ignoring the tune you sang
world, world, sister world
and every thing that passed your face
you called by name.

Friends came in turn
mother and father
the priest and a lighted candle
a hoe a shovel.

After this endless misery
from which there's no escape
someone asked our mother
how much pepper to add to the food.

We made pound cakes and cabbage rolls
filled with spiced meat and toasted
with wine your proper departure
and our forgetfulness.

If only I could somehow have helped
chopped greens or just
let myself be chopped
with that sharp chopping knife.