He will look at this photo
years from now
his second birthday
the story will have endured
about how there was no cake
only a candle
in a spelt muffin
your mouth is full
someone will say
maybe his wife
you must have liked it
but he isn’t listening
he’s looking at her
in the photo
so unlike a mother
those pretty earrings
those strong arms
holding him up
her face so bright
teeth and eyes and everything
working
what kind of river
carried her away.