Princess of Oudh

From crushed remains of family 

Stones, diamonds, pearls, a toxic mix, 

The potent drink of silent death.

Between us, brother, sister, she

Our mother slept on cold, a slab

Of stone beneath us all, and for

Her royal head a pillow rich,

Brocaded red with gold.  She ate 

Without us, never called us child.

The bowl she drank is here, her drink

Of silence.  We are nature’s folk,

No plastics, politics, none know.

Our hearts we do not open just

To anyone.  From pharoahs down

Our obligation handed, her

Embalm ourselves. Between us limp

Her parching body slept.  Delights

In ruin nature does, so I 

Desire nothing.  Don’t, please, that word

Too common is, to pious flame

Conferred she was.  Her ashes flew

Away in rivers. Living still,

A dynasty of dead are we.