ASHES TO ASHES

Sedona sculpture-artist unknown

Ash Wednesday- 1949

Church of the Holy Angels...

I'm six years old

kneeling before the altar

fingers rubbing my forehead

the priest whispers above me

ashes to ashes

dust to dust...

my small body trembles

Ash Wednesday- 2011...

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

remember those

buried beneath me,

their bones

only red dust

on my jeans...

~ mimi