for George Chambers

Someday I'll go
to the place of ashes
and sit beside the ashes
of my mother and father

I'll sit in the dark
and watch the glow
of the coal fire
through the tiny
mica windows
of the salamander-stove

I'll hold my breath
and carry their
chamber pot
downstairs
to empty it
in the courtyard

back upstairs
I'll sit again
beside the ashes
and try to scoop them
in the palm of my hands
so they can tell me
what happened ...

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