My favourite paralian.

The wind blew east, off the cape, out to sea.
Two lonely thoughts of salvation
stood on the ledge.


There was only a forest of darkness to obscure
the sight of a thousand crying children
and in the sky you might have seen
something else.


Someone.


But I didn’t. There was only the blue of hospital flowers,
the pink of approaching dawn.


Your hand felt warm despite the chill in your bones
that you said had been your company for months.


Your only company.


The ocean did her best
and hid the clovers and the rose thorns you'd collected,
like you used to,
under your blouse,
back when.