The Ivory Fishhook

She tosses the necklace
too many memories attach themselves
to colourful fakes
collected as they travelled

This one�s a carving, a hook
a Maori chief made for her, a fish, a fishing man�tall
or is it that all men
were tall when she stood close?

He had not kissed her, merely
moved hands over bone
gently as if the bit of horn
were breasts