Writer:- Norma Schwind, Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre
Western Australia
MY FAVOURITE AUNT
Aunty Bill was different from my mum
and other ladies that I knew
short round and cuddly
she cooked
at clubs and pubs and thereabouts
aunty Bill was love and laughter
and when she hugged us close
we felt all safe and warm
when only sailors had tattoos
she had one on her thigh
bright blue and large as life
a butterfly
we didn’t see it very much
but when allowed a peek
it seemed we saw it move its wings
she loved a beer or two
did Aunty Bill
and often took to singing songs
in groups or on her own
the day she died my world stood still
a sense of loss a vacant space
her funeral drew a good sized crowd
who’d come to say farewell
three readers lined up in a row
a nun
a niece
a neighbor
with words in their hands
and thoughts in their hearts
the priest from a small country town
unused to funeral cremations
raised arms in a gesture of welcome
and peace
then pressed for the music to start
the coffin slid
slow soundless and sure
to the waiting embrace of a curtain
stop cried the priest with a voice full of error
stop
stop
stop
his foot stamping down on the button
but the coffin kept going it could not hear
his anguished cry or stamping foot
just kept sliding silent and slow
she went without music this aunt of mine
no words of praise
nor sharing of times
the mourners sat wide eyed and still
while the readers retired to their seats
then the priest wrung his hands in a show of dismay
imploring his God up above
my favourite aunt had gone