Rigged poker -stiff on her back br With a granite grin br This antique museum-cased lady br Lies, companioned by the gimcrack br Relics of a mouse and a shrew br That battened for a day on her ankle-bone. br br These three, unmasked now, bear br Dry witness br To the gross eating game br We'd wink at if we didn't hear br Stars grinding, crumb by crumb, br Our own grist down to its bony face. br br How they grip us through think and thick, br These barnacle dead! br This lady here's no kin br Of mine, yet kin she is: she'll suck br Blood and whistle my narrow clean br To prove it. As I think now of her hand, br br From the mercury-backed glass br Mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother br Reach hag hands to haul me in, br And an image looms under the fishpond surface br Where the daft father went down br With orange duck-feet winnowing this hair —- br br All the long gone darlings: They br Get back, though, soon, br Soon: be it by wakes, weddings, br Childbirths or a family barbecue: br Any touch, taste, tang's br Fit for those outlaws to ride home on, br br And to sanctuary: usurping the armchair br Between tick br And tack of the clock, until we go, br Each skulled-and-crossboned Gulliver br Riddled with ghosts, to lie br Deadlocked with them, taking roots as cradles rock.