Linda Hutsell-Manning – p. 100

Winnipeg 1966

Scotty now in one prosaic room iron bed flanked with single wooden chair barren hallways Lysol prescribing order we sit outside on lawn-chairs tidy grass and sunlight his slicked back hair jaunty pocket handkerchief still that smile his soft burr voice asking of my life my family as if all were well as if this sterile life I saw were good horse whispering gone lost like his years his gentle face at peace my questions of his welfare met with mild amusement this warm afternoon revealing still the woodpile wooden barrow me in shadow while his jaunty younger self looked out for gently watched his boss’s headstrong filly.