At the moment that a pardalote careered into the window
They were halfway through the crossword and their hopes were fading
They'd spread the weekend paper clear across the kitchen table
There was coffee on the stove and last night's dishes waiting
This was months ago
Miles away
She closed her eyes and pointed at the map when they were half an hour out
Leaving town for labour day all those lights behind them
And now the mist was lifting on a perfect autumn morning
And somewhere in the distance there were church bells chiming
Then that sickening sound
She wheeled around
There was nothing there but a ripple in the air
A feather lost amongst the falling leaves
Without a word they made a beeline for the bird
That careered and still decaying on the breeze
It was cold enough to see eachother breathing
They found it in the dirt beneath the rhododendron bent and broken
And when she handed him the stone his name caught in her throat
It seemed forever since they'd spoken
And held it high she closed her eyes
After it was done he sat silent in the sun
While she made a cross of rotten weather boards
They dug a shallow grave with a soup spoon for a spade
And carefully she cut the tiny cords
What was that town called?
Something falls