Dulcie

She stands so proud and straight

The babe tight in her arms

He sits before her in a wicker chair

His arms about one son

The older boy stands to the side

His hand on his dad’s leg

It’s a pretty family photo

A keepsake of her birth

They’re all dressed in fancy togs

A hat upon her head

The newborn swathed in woollen white

Her man in Sunday best

The boys in shorts and socks and coats

Reminiscent of little angels

Hair brushed flat upon their heads

And on their foreheads curls

A happy picture so you’d think

But look a little closer

Seek their eyes and you will see

An emotional exposure

Confusion in the children’s

Gentle puzzlement in his

And in the woman’s holding the child

Unmistakable grief

The adults are my grandparents

The boys my Uncle and Dad

But two are missing from the snap

And one won’t be coming back

For as my Nan had my Aunt

I imagine how she cried

Whilst she'd given birth to the honour of the photo

Her two year old daughter had died