‘In the garden by the swing sits a
A little girl oblivious of the love
And and joy she brings
There are flowers all about her and
Birds that sweetly sing of the
Joys of tomorrow that a certain
Smile can bring’
There’s a pool deep with water from
Which sirens softness bring and
The pool’s cool and dark with
Golden fish and other things
There’s a rock by a fountain which
Quietly sprays the air and soothes
The very quietness that is spoiled by
Me being there
While she plays with her fingers and
Touches face and hair and is
Surprised by the roughness
And the burnt smell
In the air
Looking all about her at the sky devoid
Stars there is something more
Demanding of my life that
Is in hers
Her fingers once so pallid turn red
And and black and blue and
Darkness creeps from
Cracks from inside
Her out on to you
As the fountains keep on raining
And the siren softly soothes
And the sky slightly blackened
Shines down light and lifeless too.