Ash Wednesday

ashes fall late this year
"to dust you shall return"
as if, in deep cold dark
mortality
is somehow in question

wet
not much in the way of dust
windows rattle the howl
whistles down between trees
bungalows & shotguns
swirling animate
clacking stick trees
bone chilling
wet

clacking sticks
waving palms
broken body hanging from a tree
Ash Wednesday a taunt
from dust you came
to dust you shall return