Old Photograph of a Young Woman Who Died in Childbirth
Barefoot in the yard In the shade of shade Trees rooted In a prior century In a dress stamped All over with flowers Hair done up In a bright bun Arms hanging loose And hands fallen open Like mouths At your sides You stand next To the solemn man You just married Who believes that You are his The photographer has gone Under his black hood As if under a wave Having told you to Stay still until He lets his hand fall He lets his hand fall Meaning You can move now But you don’t