And she told me
Come full circle
Lying in a hospital room
Came to Saskatoon
When seven years old
Kilburn Hall was home
An orphanage
Youngest of Six
Mom from Ile-a-la-Crosse
Couldn’t take care of her
Dad from Scotland
Worked in the hospital there
Sister nine and brother fourteen
With her for four years
And then to foster care
Grew up Roman Catholic
Worked in those homes
Made spending money
Taught how to wash clothes
Not much chance at school
Three brothers and sisters
And the two older
Didn’t know very well
As they in other foster homes
Or all gone working
Was phoned four months ago
From Ile-a-la-Crosse
To pick up brother’s ashes
How could she
Some of them are gone now
One brother recently
And so it goes
Loves taking off in her
Wheelchair
Hiding from them all
Funnier than listening to
You can’t do this
You can’t do that.
Aug. 30, 2019
ellensagh 