Endings

If you loved the body-- 

Or the person in the body--

You'd take the body

Out into the woods. 

That's where bodies come from. 

You'd honor the body

With a sunshine reception,

Or a rain cleanse,

Or a snow baptism,

Your fingers cold in your pockets. 

You'd gather the kindling,

Your hands colder still,

And you'd arrange it in a dry place. 

You'd remove a lighter from your backpack

And you'd slowly set to flame

The tiny home you built. 

You'd lean into the danger

The heat drying your tears,

Warming your fingers. 

Burn, burn, burn. 

Goodbye, the fire would whisper

In its deep voice.

Goodbye, the body would whisper,

In the language only you would understand.

Goodbye, you would whisper back.

This is the only way to say goodbye.

Burn, burn, burn.