a gentle woodsmoke trails to
where the grass is frozen silver
at the edge of memory
on the edge of town

where the grass is frozen, silver
change buys a lolly bag at the servo
on the edge of town,
it is warm inside and smells of liquorice

change buys a lolly bag at the servo
down the road from grandma’s house,
it is warm inside and smells of liquorice
the fire has been blazing since morning

down the road from grandma’s house
we find a burned-out car at mum’s old school
the fire has been blazing since morning
and it is no great surprise

the burned-out car at mum’s old school
clouds the air with smoke
and it is no great surprise
an ashy scent lingers

clouds, the air with smoke
and my breath billowing
an ashy scent lingers
that day, mum showed me her childhood home

my breath billowing
at the edge of memory,
that day mum showed me her childhood home
a gentle woodsmoke trails to