Some facts about ashes
They will be delivered inside a purple velveteen bag, such as a child might use for marbles.
Inside this will be a tall square tin.
The tin will be taped closed.
The tin also contains a medallion rattling in a pouch, which you may initially think contains whatever the furnace could not eat: teeth, say, or rings.
They are not uniform, but contain both powder and seeds.
They will stick to your fingers.
You will remember the ashes even when nursing your infant daughter. The snow will remind you.
You will have no idea what to do with the bag.
They contain nothing recognizable.
They have no colour of any kind.
Once stuck to the fingers they will not be licked clean. Around the lips they make a tribal mask, almost black.
When scattered into tall grass on a hot day, they leave no trace.
You will come across the bag months latter in a corner with some laundry and stop breathing.
On the other hand, you are not sure what happened to the tin.
The tape on the tin must be cut open. Someone will have a pocket knife, though many have come through airport security.
Inside the tin is a thick clear plastic bag.
It is this you can upend.
When scattered in the tall grass on a hot day, the seeds fall. The powder plumes and drifts away.
3 Comments
Thank you, that was beautiful and touched my feelings and memories deeply. I’ll share, although it’s been forever since I’ve written poetry:
The box, brushed brass, sits nestled in the back of Mom’s honda. Inside are ashes, but we never see them, instead we rush to the gravesite, found and purchased last minute.
A vase of irises follows the box out of the car, and we take them to a small hole in the ground, such that a groundhog would have. We make up what to do as we go along, all of us lost,
irises follow the box, pressed down into the darkness, stems bent and broken, a flash of purple.
An Assay. Yes.
Another reason-unconscious-that I didn’t make it to services this year. Oh come see the cookies, my daughter, wonderful post ashes sprinkling party when hands have been wshed at the foot of the altar.8 monthslate this morning Noah, this afternoon Johnny Cash’s little brother. People said don’t worry this movie won’t be a problem for you. Which universe do we share.