I turned to the company she’d been talking to

Elder Jaha, Imani and Ravenna standing still as statues 

May I ask for the elderess to guide Elder Sindokht to her room while I prepare a bath?

Of course, child. Go quickly.

I toil to warm the bath

adding salts so that the scars will be permanent as is custom 

Following up by spreading the dried white chrysanthemums in the water

I enter Aunty’s room and carefully wrap her hand around my forearm

Her dull eyes worry me more than me not re-greeting the others 

We tread slowly to the bathroom

She’s always be a muset of strong stature but now her spine has a curved to it 

The cypress is bent

I wait on her 

Washing and caring like I’m a servant but it is of no discomfort

It’s a reprieve from dealing with my own grief

I start with her crown 

pouring a pitcher full of petal water over her head 

to reach her scalp 

and the skin that didn’t reach the 

water 

She is silent as is custom 

while I chant under my breath to keep the 

spirits from 

interfering with the cleansing process

Humming 

Humming

Sighing 

And humming

Disrupt the spirits 

Disrupt the spirit’s inclination to invite them back

Disrupt the spirits

Humming and

Sighing 

Humming

Humming