Raymond Federman - IN THE PLACE OF ASHES

IN THE PLACE OF ASHES

	   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
then holding my breath
I'll carry the chamber pot
downstairs to empty it
in the courtyard
and again I'll sit
beside the ashes
and try to scoop them
in the palm of my hand
so they can speak to me
and tell me what happened