THE CHOLERA CHILDREN

Sept. 2, 1921

Jacob’s house holds its breath

In the closet
at the top of the stairs
death again sweeps
her slow dance

Then – at morning and mid-afternoon –
whisks two small spirits over the open sill
bathes them with a sour kiss
of early September air

Violet’s leaden arms bear the body of
Eldon, her firstborn, close to her heart

She counts each step down
Turns left through the door
Approaches the dining room table

This precious burden
Their last journey of close flesh

Beyond the wall, the kitchen mantle
clock cuts apart each moment
It punctuates the afternoon air

Take her out of here, she says to Florrie,
And close the door

Her young sister-in-law clutches
two-year-old Elsie’s hand
the one who survives

At the top of the stairs
In the little room that bore
her bright laughter, the body
of four-year-old Mildred
waits her mother’s touch

Neighbours – fearing for their own –
will not come near. Arch carves the coffin.
At 27, Violet alone with bitter
heart learns death’s hard lesson.

Two-month-old Ruby stirs in her sleep
Her turn soon to draw life from
Violet’s breast. She begins a journey
into a world that no longer
knows the cholera children.

At the table, the moist cloth in
Violet’s hand anoints the brow
finally blessed by her
goodnight kiss.

NOTE: BRIDGEWATER BULLETIN - The last item in the Hemford News, September 13, 1921: The people of this community are in deep sympathy with Mr. and Mrs.Arch Colp of Colpton on the loss of their two children by Cholera.