Susie Utting

The Visit

Remember raspberry jam in the cake
as well as whipped cream
as she likes sweet things
Pack all toys away
Unpack Wedgwood with the gold rim plates
no chips for her delicate lips
Air the spare bed sheets
Put out thin pillows for her and plump soft ones for Dad
Give up my favourite chair by the open fire
I don't know how you
gave up your lovely new home to come and live here…
Clean the oven
Tidy the sunroom no washing hanging over chairs
Sweep the front porch
Remind James and Lucy to say Happy Birthday Grandma
Take Dad around the garden while she has her nap
Remember…

she lives
by feeding chips of me
into flames