Fuel

She left them too soon
She never got them back
These clods of earth that made
Foundation for solidity

And all the tears watering
Made no thing grow
But the stick bundle
Tied to her back

The ever-dry tinder
In her pocket, carefully kept,
Meant that she always had a fire
A fire's bright blessing

On skin
Kept her warm enough
Kept her living
Without them

previous poem