Katherine Gotthardt is my fifth guest blogger from Write by the Rails – the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club‘s Endless Blog Tour 2014. In the coming weeks, you will find here posts from 10 additional guests. Enjoy!
Bury Me Under a Lilac
When I die
burn me,
then bury me
under a lilac bush.
Use your hands
to claw through the topsoil.
Get it under your nails.
Don’t worry about your manicure
or the mess
or dogs.
Bury me under a lilac.
Maybe the one in the Sisters’ garden,
or my brother-in-law’s back yard,
or maybe, if you’re sneaky,
that one in the park
on the corner of North and something.
Maybe under your own.
But bury me under a lilac.
Dig the hole deep enough to hold my ashes,
shallow enough to let my spirit breathe,
wide enough for my memories.
You know I don’t believe
in leaving things behind.
Keep all of me in one, good place.
Cradle my remains in the palm of your hand,
sift them through your fingers as you drop me into Earth,
feel the softness that is death,
and do not despair.
I’m coming back as a lilac,
and lilacs smell like heaven.
Copyright January 19, 2014
Katherine Gotthardt
Read more about Katherine at www.katherinegotthardt.com.
What lovely imagery. You really capture the beauty of nature and our return to the Earth well. Nice work, Katherine!