I went to get ashes but first
I got coffee
Light battling darkness in the foam and froth
And some buttered toast
The bread stuttered out a decadence of cranberries and walnuts
I went to get ashes but first
I staked a claim by the fireplace
Real logs and real flame make
Analog ash in this infinite winter
I went to get ashes at
The table with the priest and the hand painted sign:
ASHES
And he was also giving away
POEMS
What a morning!
I went to get ashes and I got
A cross smudged under my bangs
A thumb writing
On the wall of my skull:
Dust we begin
Dust we end
I went to get ashes and now
The whole world can wonder along with me
Is she holy or just
Disheveled as usual
The answer, as always, is:
Yes
Post #2 of 40 Daze: A Lenten Writing Practice.
Thanks to Jeff Eddings of Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community for yesterday’s ashes and the Jan Richardson poem “Blessing the Dust”, and to Big Dog Coffee for the food and fire.
