Fay Marshall

"Henry Fish,
infant of this parish..."
died 1857
here in Lostwithiel.

A name on a plaque
on a church wall.

They moved the ancient Celtic cross
from the churchyard
to mark your tiny plot
in the new cemetry -
you were their first guest
on the Restormel road.

Did that great granite cross,
lost to Lostwithiel,
weathered by centuries,
weigh heavily on your light sleep
Henry Fish,
infant?

Or did its circled arms
stretch out their safe embrace
deep
to the cradling earth?

We only know they took the cross away,
long years later,
back to the church
in Lostwithiel.

And left you still at rest
alone
on the Restormel road,
Henry Fish, 
infant.

[in South 42]