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Small town
Sheep
Tulips
Two gas stations
Four churches
A middle-aged woman murdered
At home
By her son
Sunday School Teacher to my daughter
Barber to my son’s first curls
Expert Cookie Baker
Green Thumb
Holder of the Key to the Craft Room
Synthesizer Player who sang “Count Your Blessings”
But
There was the divorce
And
The leaving the church
And
The unanswered calls
Then
A driveway blocked by police tape
Homicide investigators
Crime scene cleaning van
Her name kept out of news articles
Official admonitions not to speculate
To respect the family
Younger son, in jail
Older son’s house, just around the corner
Her new granddaughter won’t know her
Her sister’s house, two rights and one left from where IT happened
What gives solace to the bereaved?
A quiet, private burial
Now
She lays in the cemetery
With my sister-in-law
And my grandparents
My uncle dug the hole
My cousin filled the dirt
Her house is empty
A new gate blocks the driveway
A letter for her sister waits on my desk
With thoughts and prayers
Eventually
Some outsider will buy the house
No one from here could ever do it
Even for a deal
Someday
Everyone will plant bulbs in her honour
Along the dyke
Where people walk their dogs and horses
Where she walked with friends
We aren’t ready yet
Sheep
Tulips
Two gas stations
Four churches
A middle-aged woman murdered
At home
By her son
Sunday School Teacher to my daughter
Barber to my son’s first curls
Expert Cookie Baker
Green Thumb
Holder of the Key to the Craft Room
Synthesizer Player who sang “Count Your Blessings”
But
There was the divorce
And
The leaving the church
And
The unanswered calls
Then
A driveway blocked by police tape
Homicide investigators
Crime scene cleaning van
Her name kept out of news articles
Official admonitions not to speculate
To respect the family
Younger son, in jail
Older son’s house, just around the corner
Her new granddaughter won’t know her
Her sister’s house, two rights and one left from where IT happened
What gives solace to the bereaved?
A quiet, private burial
Now
She lays in the cemetery
With my sister-in-law
And my grandparents
My uncle dug the hole
My cousin filled the dirt
Her house is empty
A new gate blocks the driveway
A letter for her sister waits on my desk
With thoughts and prayers
Eventually
Some outsider will buy the house
No one from here could ever do it
Even for a deal
Someday
Everyone will plant bulbs in her honour
Along the dyke
Where people walk their dogs and horses
Where she walked with friends
We aren’t ready yet
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