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‘At Norwich a young countrywoman started to cross the road
in her usual robust health and was seen by the onlookers
to turn visibly to powder and be blown in a puff of dust
over the roofs as the icy blast struck her at the street corner.’
Orlando, Virginia Woolf
what we know
is that her brother was furious
the children in the street carried on playing and shrieking
no-one had ever heard of such an act
the vicar made a note to call on her family
there was less shouting and more crying in her house
where they each dreamed she’d walk in again one day
her husband became quietly angry at times to fill the gap
what we don’t know
is how she decided which clothes to wear
if she went nervously out the door
did she shake as she got to the turning point
did she feel guilt or shame
what was the rate of her heart as it happened
how long the moment lasted while she was in it
Heidi Williamson