I. br br ash was br smeared about br the the oily-skin br of her forehead br like lambs blood br br above the doors br of shacks in israel br as if to save all br behind her skull br from a coming- br plague br br II. br br she glanced- br deep and through br me with christ-like br eyes and spoke of how br humans are like instruments br br poorly tuned by life br and experience br she is still the br back-bone of a br great and many br songs br br III.