soft chocolate locks
dust his shoulders
like autumn's leaves
fallen from the tree

she sweeps them away
prays for a Spring renewal

"so handsome", she smiles
now let's have some fun
as out from her basket
comes the Gingerbread man

"we'll dress him in finery before you go in
he can wait here with me, until you come out"

sweet spice exploding in thin air
amidst the antiseptic tones

"how many buttons, son?"

"can we have ten?"

"I'm not sure we'll fit them
we need a bigger man
we'll stick them on you
there's plenty of glue"

"let's have one red and then one blue
you know I will always be with you"

"right here in my heart
just above my cake
but there's no need to worry
I'll see you when you wake
...two shoes, two eyes
what else do we need?"

"the most important thing
on a gingerbread boy"
and as she watches there appears
a smile ear-to-ear
made of icing and sprinkles
as red as the poppies
they both hold so dear

"remember me like this
with a smile on my face
a spring in my step
but each hair in its place"

"time to go now"
says nurse with a grin
a quick trip on the ward train
we all know you'll win

aqua blue drops
dust her shoulders
each one the weight of a boulder
as petals drip drop
on the tiny white coffin
her heart slow-blowing away
like ash on the Southern wind

then a sea of red
grabs the corner of her eye
poppies everywhere
his last goodbye
and slowly but surely
a beam grins ear-to-ear
as she remembers with joy
all the smiles she has seen
on her gingerbread boy