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Serpentine, Volume 3, Number 1, Winter 1999

ASHES (for my Mother)

by Rober James Berry

Swing the mattock
Slice the baked clay

Flints, chalk
The blade works through
marrow of roots
fashions the six foot plot
	
Cotton seals my mother's nose mouth
... Her rings		favourite dress
I do not know you
earth		sun-brown
rills onto teak
		over final flowers

I am standing farewell
Then		Tonight
Your lips still
Your mask chalk 

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