Scarves in the breeze

Hanging from her curly locks
the tissue of her cerebral tears
her shoulders covered
hurriedly in the rain
woven thoughts tenderly
waited for the celestial years
carried, carried in the wind
Holding high her head
the neck muscles strained
cushioning the shocks
from her deliberate gait
captured fluid, fluvial sweat
balanced strait as lead
Fluttering silken flowered
only shoulders covered
fabric falling faintly
thirst quenched first by pain.

T.P. Wilkinson, Dr. rer. pol. writes, teaches History and English, directs theatre and coaches cricket between the cradles of Heine and Saramago. He is author of Unbecoming American: A War Memoir and also Church Clothes, Land, Mission and the End of Apartheid in South Africa. Read other articles by T.P..