Men were paddling through fog in their longboats,
so quiet the ferns seemed to bolt green into life
out of the muggy waste, black earth and rain
on everything. The war was at a standstill.
People strained their ears for news of what
to do next, but no orders came. We retreated
into the old life, as usual. Men went fishing,
women cried into lace and became the stuff
of the lace they crocheted daily. Babies
ate regularly and the importance of food
was recognized again. The hunting prohibition
was repealed and the animals liked this –
all of the smaller orders were glad
to have their use understood once more.