Kudos to everyone who have been keeping up with the Poemtober/Inktober words! Your poems have all been impressive. My efforts haven’t been too successful. Last weekend, though, the word ash bumped into this tweet from Robert Macfarlane, author of The Lost Words.
Ash + venation = this draft
When leaves are burned and turn to ash
their venation disappears
just like the whorls on your fingertips
have disappeared from the world.
Fingertips that will never again
crimp a pie crust,
knit a sweater,
stroke the hair of a sobbing girl.
But your heart,
now turned to ash,
still beats
in the hearts
of those you loved.
Draft © Catherine Flynn, 2019
Congratulations Karen Eastlund!
You are the winner of Thanku: Poems of Gratitude!
Please be sure to visit Jama Rattigan at Jama’s Alphabet Soup for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Reading to the Core 
A beautiful, moving poem, Catherine. Makes me want to give my daughter a hug.
LikeLike
Your poem is poignant and heartfelt. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
I love how you created your beautiful poem from two distinct inspirations, Catherine. As Jama already commented, it’s so poignant and heartfelt.
LikeLike
Lovely, Catherine–I didn’t expect the twist to human loss/memory and those specific memories work so well.
LikeLike
Catherine, this is delicate and intense. I like the twist at the end. Beautiful
LikeLike
I’m feeling the loss of and the echoes-in-my-heart of my mom. I dreamed of her last night. There’s so much I wish I could talk to her about…
Thank you for your poem.
LikeLike
Your poem is beautiful and so full of deep emotion. I loved it!
LikeLike
You jumped in with a whopper, Catherine. This poem is imagery seasoned with sadness and hope, a wonderful combination.
LikeLike
This is beautiful. I love how love and hope and death and loss circle and entertwine.
LikeLike
So poignant, moving, and beautiful, Catherine.
LikeLike