I didn’t go for ashes today
haven’t gone in years

day after Mardi Gras
dust on the forehead
dust thou art 
and unto dust
thou shalt return

I don’t need to be reminded

I used to go without
thinking why
it didn’t matter
it is what good
Catholics do

a reminder
that we were
cast out of the garden
for eating
the evil fruit

I like apples
I like pears
I like most any
kind of fruit

dust thou art 
and unto dust
thou shalt return

I want to be
cremated
so I will
return to dust

but I plan to eat
plenty of apples
before I do