ASHES TO ASHES

Print by S. Auberle

Ash Wednesday

Church of the Holy Angels

I'm six years old

kneeling before an altar

fingers rubbing my forehead

fear chilling down my back

as the priest whispers above me

ashes to ashes, dust to dust...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ash Wednesday

Church of Red Earth

I'm sixty-something

kneeling in a crater

where lava once poured down.

I rub dirt on my forehead

find a potsherd

and remember

those buried beneath me

their sins and bones

only red dust on my jeans.

- mimi