Terry D. Sutherland

HOLLY

Holly was a doughnut dolly
She wore a cross of red
Her sister’s name was Polly
Their brother’s name was Ned

Holly shipped out one day
She flew across the sea
She landed in Cam Rhan Bay
Just to see what she could see

She traveled to remote outposts
To inspire and to cheer
She found she had to live with ghosts
At the end of her long year

The ghosts stayed forever near
Long after she came home
She lived a life of constant fear
Even after her child had grown

It is the year that changed her life
The part she let no one near
The memories cut her like a knife
And pierce her like a spear