Home » Poems » Rhona Mcferran » Ashes To Ashes

Ashes To Ashes

Since she died, I have to build
a makeshift funeral pyre
to burn up all the secrets told
her letters lit afire

I read them through before I do
the funny, sweet and shocking
things she shared when we were kids
vicious flames now mocking

Their heat distorts my vision
with a wavering in the air
as I quell my indecision
and try hard not to care

Though it hurts, I cannot hold
on to what would become twisted
misunderstanding things she told
of what her life consisted

So many clever bits and pieces
of lovely sisterhood
slow the savory memory releases
things unspoken yet understood

Now tearing into tiny fragments
salvaging what I can
I burn and die a little as I
throw them in the can

For on this makeshift funeral pyre
I offer my sacrifice
and 'though I know- it's loyal and true
I feel I'm losing her twice

Like vicious beast, the blazing flames
are licking, burning with poison tongue
eating memories accumulated
when my heart was free and young

A smoldering within my soul
now singed, and seared, and scorched
feeling somehow less than whole
my heart a wasteland, barren torched

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Winged Warrior

Date: 10/29/2018 7:41:00 AM

Very well crafted Rhona...love your flowing rhymes my friend...excellent...love & light...^WW^

Rhona Mcferran
Date: 10/29/2018 7:50:00 AM

Thank you so much for the lovely compliments, my friend! Glad you enjoyed it! ;)

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 10/27/2018 3:16:00 PM

So striking, especially like 'I burn and die a little' and 'I feel I'm losing her twice' - grieving is a complicated process, isn't it?

Rhona Mcferran
Date: 10/27/2018 6:32:00 PM

Thank you! Yes, it definitely is complicated! (...and those were my favorite lines, as well!)

Pashang Salehi

Date: 10/26/2018 6:14:00 PM

We are to blame for the painfulness of being dead... How do we know this is living? Your words are very powerful.

Rhona Mcferran
Date: 10/27/2018 5:59:00 AM

A very thought-provoking comment... thank you so much! ;)

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 10/24/2018 2:13:00 PM

Wow, powerful <3

Rhona Mcferran
Date: 10/24/2018 2:36:00 PM

Thank you! I was remembering how, when my best friend died, I had to burn most of her letters (as they were incredibly personal, sharing things she never even told her family). That was so incredibly hard- and still hurts to think about, even years later.