My father died midwinter br they said I had to bring br the papers to the Town Hall br I longed to start crying br br and how I needed someone br remembering like me br the kids we were so heedless br and only you could see br br the house we knew together, br my father's voice and hands br his eyes now closed forever br his time gone like the sands br br you drove me through the snowstorm br the Christmas shoppers gone br the tawdry tinsel dimming br the town a whitened tomb br br we talked, you leaned towards me br to turn the radio br for music to console me br played solemnly, quite low... br br The notes hit home like lightning, br Es muss sein, came the note br my heart stopped and tears flooded br my quick constricted throat br br and this was all I could do, br turn off the radio, br and crumple all the papers br and say, just let them blow br br for that is all we are, see, br when all our wings are pinned, br just scraps of papers flying, br flying in the wind.