going up the hill to the house, we
going up the hill to the house, we
saw flowers that she loved, and picked them
black eyed susans, sweet williams, daisies, columbine.
we gripped them in our plump warm hands.
by the time we made it, panting,
having stopped for toads and all the small things,
we presented them to her half-wilted.
“ragweed gives me allergies” she would say, plucking one of them out.
the rest would go in a vase of honor on the kitchen table
a small token of each others’ love.
going down the hill to the creek, we
see flowers that she loved, and pluck them
dandelions, sweet williams, violets, asters.
at the bottom trickles clear water
over mossy gray rocks
and we tip her ashes in.
they are white
like her hair
pure white
like her devotion
white like the sugar in her blood
white
like the angels she adored.
they swirl the water opaque
atop it we scatter the flowers
a painter’s palette of Missouri colors
blackberry, butter yellow, sap green, slate.
the sandy ashes sink.
it takes a full hour for them to wisp away
grain by grain into the gentle landscape.
we’re used to waiting for her.
no matter how we tried to rush,
she always did move slowly,
tasting her fine wine time.
Fresh Hell 
Love all the vivid flowers here! Can really smell the scene perfectly. 🙂
“ragweed gives me allergies” – haha! Brilliant!
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Sweetest love poem ever 💕
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It really was a beautiful scattering, so fitting for her ❤️
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Oh the tenderness, Sarah. Oh, the love.
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❤️❤️❤️
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What a gorgeous tribute! Some people were just meant to write, Sarah. I’m so glad you share your gift with us! ~ Mona
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*big hug*
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