FIVE YEARS AGO THAT AUGUST
by Lyn Lifshin
It was just
four days before.
There was blood already
creeping into maple.
She'd be carried
out in purple velvet,
sleep with sand in
her eyes but there were
still enough hours
to rub her feet, doze
exhausted on the
mattress near the
hospital bed, say it was
ok. It would be as
she had, so often, tho
this time after she said
love she just shook
her head
