He said...

His eyes didn't see
beads of water on the grass,
little fish
in the stream,
forget-me-not,
Jack-by-the-hedge,
blackbirds
watching us.

He said:
Can we go home now?

His ears didn't hear
through an open window
birds' evensong,
children laughing,
dogs barking.

He said:
Shut the window.

His tongue couldn't taste
sweet green peas,
melting butter,
mint&;#8230;

He said:
Where's the sauce?

I heard his heart beat.
His body smelt stale and
My fingers couldn't wake it.
I blew gently on his neck.

He said:
Go to sleep.