Along the river
You came with the summer sun
And thawed my winter
In Matsushima
You gazed at pine-clad islands
And sighed with Basho
You planted gum trees
For every family member
Some grew, some faltered
You shuddered at crows
Their cawings a foretolling
Of endings to come
You smiled and whispered
'I may be gone for some time'
Skin like polar ice
A red flowering gum
Is growing on your ashes
The 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.