In the chill and invisible distance,
her brother gives a shout
and a piebald horse
emerges from the feathered brume to see
a wooden bucket tumble
and
roll down a hill, cold water
leaping
from its mouth with each bounce
until it knocks against the barn
Where
with the wind burning her cheeks
her fingers stiff in the cold
a country girl sprays
the bucket with water
to hear the rain fall in another universe.
after so many years how can she love again?
after all is decided and undecided and decided again — her thoughts about talking and trust and honesty and staying together
until the futility of deciding is understood to be futile
until the rhythm of the piece is in the mind of time
until you don’t even think about it any more
yes until then
The mourners come to greet Mrs. Bean with beautiful flowers, cheery talk and watermelon, but all she can think is that the lights are too bright and the rooms are too empty.