Ashes Poem by Paula Meehan

Ashes

Rating: 4.1


The tide comes in; the tide goes out again
washing the beach clear of what the storm
dumped. Where there were rocks, today there is sand;
where sand yesterday, now uncovered rocks.

So I think on where her mortal remains
might reach landfall in their transmuted forms,
a year now since I cast them from my hand
—wanting to stop the inexorable clock.

She who died by her own hand cannot know
the simple love I have for what she left
behind. I could not save her. I could not
even try. I watch the way the wind blows
life into slack sail: the stress of warp against weft
lifts the stalling craft, pushes it on out.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: lost
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Joe Mama 14 January 2021

Wow I love poems and this poem really made me think about ashes because my great grandmother is a pile of ashes xx

1 0 Reply
Bill Wright 24 September 2016

What a poignant poem. Is it autobiographical, the suicide of a friend or relative perhaps?

0 0 Reply
Kelly Kurt 01 April 2015

A moving and beautifully written poem. Thank you for sharing.

2 0 Reply

The poet compares the sea and beach and the death of the dear one and a marvel of excellence in poetry there visible.

2 1 Reply
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