After Time

by Lorraine Rich-Hayden

At last, you will become a mystery,
Your skin
your eyes
and your breasts
will become a mystery
And your beautiful large hands.
Your embraces, too,
your mouth
your vagina
your hair|
your voice
nearly the whole temporary
you.

But not this--
your words
which will linger,
grow vigorous,
whisper loud.

© Lorraine Rich-Hayden, 2004

Lorraine Rich-Hayden is well-known to readers in her native Australia, where she has published half a dozen widely acclaimed collections of verse, including The Last Days of My Tree House (1992: Baliwell Press), and Old Bartholemew Was a Dog Likely Missed (1997, Hamstead Publishers, Canberra). She says of writing poetry, "It's a very solitary endeavor, but then, most things worth doing are."