It was a light task
picking up the ashes
though they are heavier
than they look like they’d be

It’s not so surprising, however,
that a lifetime of stories
would be ponderous
and besides

There are roots that go down
that must be still connected
where we can’t see them
that would also render
a package like this
hard to lift.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 14, 2017