Easter lilies hold in the grip of their scent colorful eggs and chocolate rabbits and packages of squishy marshmallow peeps

secretly pinholed to harden the chicks to the reality of tearing of heads (ears first on the chocolate bunnies) and limb by limb disappearing into the rosy pink cheeks of a child

a husband selects the white lilyby the strength of its stalk, number of blooms yet unopened and one widely grinning for show

a wife plans traditional food to be blessed by a priest coming round to the flocks on a Saturday; as mother she sews new pastels for the girls

the priest comes, prays over the food, holy water falling like rain. He fumbles, needing to leave, needing to

but just as he turns, "Father," I say, "here," and hand him the ten dollar bill my father had left in full view; which I had since hidden away.