Easter Photographs

The mother takes a photograph every single Easter Sunday
And though she never foresaw it then

It makes a rather convenient timeline now
For others to view their falling apart

Jesus is risen and three little girls
Wear white dresses with blue flowers
Standing next to a boy with sharply combed hair
And a dark blue suit
A background of trees and sunflowers so tall
They dwarf every child, save the tallest sister

He lives and the second sister
Has shot up like a root this year, taller than all of them
The little boy is frowning and has chocolate on his face

And the youngest sister isn't wearing shoes

Our King has returned and if possible
The second sister seems even taller
The little boy is sitting on the ground obstinately
The oldest sister staring off at the clouds
And the littlest has a tear in her pink filmy dress

The stone has been rolled away and finally
The boy has grown, so that he now rivals the second sister in height
And both of them glare at the camera
The elder sister smiles broadly but if you look closely
Her cheeks are tear-stained
The little sister's sash is untied

The tomb was found empty and the second sister
Wears a dress cut two low in the front
And has noticeably stuffed her bra
The brother's tie hangs loose around his neck and his hands are jammed in pockets
Big sister is standing behind the youngest
Whose eyes are trained on ants on the ground

Hallelujah they cry and in this picture the scenery has changed

An empty, dry field is the backdrop

The second sister has a heavy cardigan on and watches the camera angrily
Her dress poorly tailored in an attempt to hide that she is five months along now

The brother wears thick eyeliner and a cigarette dangles from the hand

That is not flipping off the camera

The eldest sister's hair is in a thick braid and her eyes look tired
Her smile thin
Little sister's hair has not been washed or combed at all

That is the last year they take photographs.