I thought I had performed
all the rites, exorcisms: I threw
my wedding ring into the sea, burnt
my bridal rose, shredded the poem
you enclosed, went through
the books you gave me and erased
your signature from the flyleaf, said
your name backwards, walking
three times round our double-bed

Then why do you, familiar, revenant,
keep recurring, broken record, needle
in the grooves of my coiled
brain? Shall I smash
all the mirrors that reflected
your face, slash all the dresses
I wore for you, rename our children
dye my hair black? When will it
be finished? When, in dreams, will
you stop coming back?

By Jean Mallinson
Between Cup & Lip (Morgaine House $15.95) 0-9732787-0-6