When my granny was dying
I'd go into her bedroom
and look at her
she'd tell me to get out of it
leave this foul river
it will wear you out too
she was sick
and her red curly hair
was matted and smelt of gin
sometimes I sat there all day
listening to the races
and put bets on for her at the shop
and I sat there the afternoon
she died and heard her say her last words
I sat there not telling
maybe three hours
beside the first dead person I'd seen
I tried to drink some of her gin
it made me throw up on the bed
then I left her
she said the prawns will eat you
when you die on the Hawkesbury River