ashes to dust

The whisper brushed across her eyelash like a butterfly in slow motion
a gentle, solemn smile crossed her lips
she immediately felt a guilty pit in her stomach and closed her eyes

she could hear the music drifting from main street
"Don't go chasing waterfalls..."
and it echoed around the metal carrier being observed

the minister looked up and down again to the notecard in his Bible
the glasses slipping slightly down his nose
reciting words that all had heard before

Ashes and dust, she thought, we return to the earth,
yet protect remains in a metal box
a tribute, a place that can be visited. She did not know if it was curious or not.

The man spoke of death being a beautiful part of life
she saw her aunt place eye drops in her eyes
and her brother look down sternly as he quickly wiped side of his cheek

her heart was covered in gauze and placid confusion
she barely heard the words
and could not find the tears behind her eyes

she kept noting the small, bizarre things that affected her stomach
the smell of fresh caught earthworms
as if it was seeping over the smell of dusty fake flowers and old women's perfume

so much seeming between those carrying tears and those staring on
the box on the metal frame
above the deep hole that should be there and yet appeared out of place

I would not like to return here for death, she thought
not even my own
and she closed her eyes, keeping her arms hugged close to her body

Until it was finally over.