After the beginning

Fotografia de Jairo Alzate

The woman is preparing her body for sleep.

She hangs the hair forward

and it almost touches her feet.

After brushing, she throws it up and back

on to her shoulders. Then splashes water

on her face twenty times.

There is someone inside her happier

than she is, waking as she goes to sleep.

A child rolls a ball to where Death stands

and waits for him to roll it back.

But Death does not touch it.

Death covers his face with his hands

and turns away. The child runs after

wanting to play.

The woman would like a husband and child.

The desire is curled within her body.

She takes flowers into the man’s house

and thinks of finding music on the radio.

He puts his cheek against her cheek,

his mouth on her naked shoulder.

There is no music. She pays attention

to his body. It is night and quiet

all around his embraces.

Linda Gregg