floating and leaving no trace
gristle and thistle and sharpened teeth
dwell under skin and hide beneath
the roiling swell of too-hot blood.
ashes to ashes, and dust to mud
we gather together to raise the dead
serve them cakes and moldy bread
return again to the silent tomb
just another word for womb
according to my high school
biology teacher
we are mostly water
sacks of salty liquid refreshment
a little fat
a little meat
some gristle and bones
but even the meat and bones
are mostly water
and if you could siphon that off
maybe reclaim the water
for the drought
and apply enough pressure and time
to the bones and powder-soft organs
we would all be diamonds
shiny, hard scintillating gems
Words and Feathers 