ake

death 

     and dying, they -

all five wahine -

   lie flat horizontal

curling and curving 

        upwards to small standing:

 backs arched

 left to rot, twisted

 contorted squatting

birds pick at their bones

  then their bones

 return home 

what would my bones look like?

  without my flesh -

     would I have cracks in me?

would they eat me, those five 

kete-headed birds?

or would they bury me?