Au Revoir Mes Enfants

The flesh has fallen from her face

and you thought--

well, she lost some weight.

Didn’t you notice how she covered 

the curls wincing around

her cheeks?

Did they scream 

back at you?

Or did you look away

because her eyes

were swooning to

 John 11:25-26.

Watermelons.

Ice cream.

Raspberries.

The sun lifting the curtains.

Stirring a puddle with little children.

Oh, you didn’t know?

Couldn’t you see?

C’est dommage.

It was her last summer.

By Barbara Shields