The hollow streets were flooded

With infected screams

Prodded along by a deathless hunger

–

In the abandoned hereafter

The long bleak winter

They bloomed for the scraps

Of  careless stragglers   

–

When the earth grew still

Ashen and spare

Carved up by scavengers

The droves of the damned

 –

A remedy was among them

Light-footed and sharpened

By the bends of the road

And the burden of her gift