asha

we huddled around the makeshift grave:

a small evergreen with a small bluebell entangling the spiny dwarf

a small wood box that fit in your hand sat unmoving at the foot

and red stones arranged by a mother's hand I presumed

four coral tipped roses marked her unlived life to date

and a memory box holding a small teddy bear for the little one

a tissue for the tender hearted

and a candle to remember

to shed some light on the senselessness of it all

completed the shrine

we sprinkled our tobacco

we huddled around as the elders prayed

the sweet grass dancing around us a meandering dirge

purifying the mind, eyes, ears, mouth heart and body of the living

acknowledging the dead

she scattered the ashes

her blonde hair streaking cross her face

as the wind mixed the elements

and the rain washed over in cold pellets

that hurt when they touched our warm skin

but tricked down our chest and shivering legs

i saw asha's ashes speckle the witness' brown leather boots

like powdery grey snow

and then the rain shower erased every trace

in grey riverlets she disappeared into the ground

where ashes are to ashes and dust is to dust

o great spirit he said in his rich deep voice

they sang

but i was not listening

i was watching a mother let go and a spirit leave us