For Paul Brookes’ December challenge.

Dusty

an old person’s home.

She has so little time left
why waste it on housework?

Dust settles in the parlour
where no one goes these days
too cold in winter too sad in summer
full of north-flung shadows
and the silent piano.

The cabinet keeps the dust
off the precious things
a safe with windows.

Children look
but know not to turn the key.

Dead moths in the linen press
that smells of camphor.

Hard to tell between scraps of relics
in rust-stained scapulars
and moth wings
but the glassware glitters
eternally.