And yet –

cool lips press to colder ivory

as though to bestow 

a sweet benediction; 

the yearning to savour such a simple thing

some herculean effort to set aside sorrows 

for the sake of care and concern 

has the healer taking hold; 

while the ruins of the rest of her 

are to be reburied not reborn

you’d try to heal anything given half the chance

 

by Beth Shepherd