Dust

A poem for Ash Wednesday

Remember that you are dust,
and to dust you shall return

The mark of death
weighs heavy on my brow.

A mere trace of ash and oil
but it brings remembrance

of sacrifice and loss,
sin and atonement.

Surely I was sinful at birth

Make me your own,
reach down to me,

Cleanse me and I will be clean

keep my name on your lips
and burn my heart to ash.

Create in me a clean heart

You formed me from the dust
of the earth and it is here in

the fertile soil that
I will be reborn.

Everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new!