By Katrina Naomi
after Mona Arshi
Aside from me and my sister there were three more all
girls I half-remember the arrival of one of those would-
have-been sisters half-remember the blood trying its damnedest to keep her safe as it flooded Mum’s skirt a
dark patch becoming the dominant colour as Mum
toppled across the bed Almost a noise to that blood
certainly a smell-rush of metal Mum gasped to phone I
knew 999 Christ knows where my father was I dialled
trying not to stare at Mum’s sudden lack of elegance
my index finger almost performing a complete circle
three times My finger ran back in urgency faster
than my hand was prepared for Mum half-lying on the bed
half-kneeling on the floor as if in prayer the blood
clumped on the carpet I tried not to look at her skirt
as Natasha or Rebecca or Alice fell In films
the carpet is rolled up taken away
KATRINA NAOMI is a poet, tutor, mentor, translator and critic from Cornwall. Her third collection, Wild Persistence, was published earlier this year.
Art by Ellena Murray
Comments