I.M. Katrin Cartlidge 1961-2002 br br On the train to Birkenhead br for her father's autopsy, br my mother saw the rainbow br of rainbows, a double. br I woke with a spark today: br the sunlight in September br is the loveliest, pure br as a woman's touch. br I turned to the obituaries br and Katrin had died; br who snake-charmed devotion. br I didn't know her, br but it felt like I did. br And yesterday was a deluge, br hours of it, and stinging eyes. br I wonder if the dead live br up there, in the sky. br I wonder if we breathe them.