Catafalque

We learnt that new word 

a box, a bier, a body 

supported by the weight

of this feeling for

the right word. Or words. 

That wouldn’t come. Or 

came in a rush, inappropriately

or with a laugh, that turned 

on a sixpence to tears. 

Do you remember sixpences

she asked. I do, of course.

Or did. Silver pieces hidden

in puddings. It is not a good day

to talk about puddings. Broken

bread, messy, crumbled.

Still, we must eat.

Jackie Bennett