niece Rose was arguing
with someone on the phone
I walked in the kitchen
and set my rucksack down

Richenza was sitting
she seemed a little blank
watching blue fish swimming
around a bubbling tank

I said hello and sat
I watched the blue fish too
Rose waved as if to say
she was just about through

Richenza suddenly
shivered and turned to me:
‘I was safe in my mother’s belly’
she said
when I travelled across the sea’

‘Sorry! Sorry!’ blushed Rose
‘Not anything for months
But that’s the way life goes
I suppose
Everything all at once’