Bracelets #92 Claine Keily

She whitewashed the walls
went to the shopping malls
bought jackfruit and persimmons
then cruised the neighbourhood
for the rest of the afternoon

Now that he was gone
she sold off her wedding bracelets
covered in charms
and listened to the new wives
at the local cafe
planning renovations

She thought only
of polishing the banister
and of the tears in the quilt
then of how to economise
at the local market
today puffed rice
tomorrow bread and butter
until she was nothing
but ashes
and the charms on her bracelets
no longer rattled