her home was outside the village

near the stables

quiet, restful, separate

she spent her time reading, or writing, or tending to her flowers

she had a cat that liked to nap

 

she was the death tender

summoned when necessary

needed

tucked away otherwise

 

she arrived smelling of star anise

that left a taste on your tongue even after she left

from breathing in, and breathing out

the anointed scent of journey

beyond

 

her breathing whispered Pachelbel’s canon

the one in D

the parade dirge

keeping everything moving along as it should, as it would

 

the death tender shook out the thin veil

that wrapped itself around the room

so instead of haunting it was inviting

silvery wisps of blessed light peaking through

 

she prayed in ancient prose to ancient ones who had long ago

slipped into the light

an ancient light growing brighter

never extinguishing

bringing ancient and present together in one star,

the return home

 

after death

the death tender returned

to her own home

outside the village

near the stables

for now

knowing one day the ancient would pull her through

to return to being

stardust scented anise