Along the riverYou came with the summer sunAnd thawed my winter
In MatsushimaYou gazed at pine-clad islandsAnd sighed with Basho
You planted gum treesFor every family memberSome grew, some faltered
You shuddered at crowsTheir cawings a foretollingOf endings to come
You smiled and whispered'I may be gone for some time'Skin like polar ice
A red flowering gumIs growing on your ashesThe brightness like you
Joan Grant has retired as senior lecturer in contemporary Asia at Monash Asia Institute. She previously taught English and was on the Board of The Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, has worked as book and acquisitions editor at various publishers, and has published books, articles, and poetry.