Reincarnation

Her mum-in-law cracked her grey head
on a porcelain bath tub
at 5:30am on Saturday.

In fact, she split open the bone
just under her left orbital.

It may require plastic surgery.

She walked out of the hospital
with her partner and sister-in-law
onto the sidewalk next to the parking lot.
Clouds overhead.

Detached from the conversation,
she stared at the pavement.

With the tip of her Keds
she began to stamp quietly
in an odd quiet, little dance.

It reminded her of moving her cursor
on a little flash game she once played,
clicking the mouse and watching the gems disappear.

"What are you doing?" she heard the sister-in-law gape.

She picked up her foot, twisted her ankle,
and looked at her sole.
Little black globs were stuck to the bottom.

Just ants. Just ants.