amidst huge frauds and primordial flowers;
birds of paradise in robes of orange and red,
flowering jasmine, hibiscus, tuberose,
and the waving leaves of banana trees.
She lived not far from my brother, but in
her own dwelling. On the morning of her
last day of life, I tried to feed her, but
she swallowed only one spoon of applesauce,
only three sips of water.
A peacock slept outside Mummy's room,
always on the same branch of the same tree.
Defiantly, that morning, he crossed the
threshold of her room and spreading his feathers
of indigo, turquoise, and bronze, he
approached her bed. Then circling the room,
screeched his sorrowful song, and was gone.
Later, the hospice nurses arrived. They
She lived not far from my brother, but in
her own dwelling. On the morning of her
last day of life, I tried to feed her, but
she swallowed only one spoon of applesauce,
only three sips of water.
A peacock slept outside Mummy's room,
always on the same branch of the same tree.
Defiantly, that morning, he crossed the
threshold of her room and spreading his feathers
of indigo, turquoise, and bronze, he
approached her bed. Then circling the room,
screeched his sorrowful song, and was gone.
Later, the hospice nurses arrived. They
washed Mummy, and as they were sweeping her
back and forth in the sheets, the nurse alerted
me that her last breaths were drawing near.
back and forth in the sheets, the nurse alerted
me that her last breaths were drawing near.
I sat on the bed and held Mummy's forehead
and shoulder. At that indelible moment,
my brother entered the room. I could see
grief wrinkled onto his face.
my brother entered the room. I could see
grief wrinkled onto his face.
For all the fury of her life, Mummy
left smoothly and with a radiance -"Goodbye
my sweetheart, my friend," I said. The peacock
had also managed to say his goodbye.
left smoothly and with a radiance -"Goodbye
my sweetheart, my friend," I said. The peacock
had also managed to say his goodbye.