By Amanda Schwarz (read by Sinchana Holla)
when I am dead – irrevocably
do not put me in a box, love
do not leave me trapped,
only inches from the earth
with manufactured stone to mark my existence,
to be ogled at and wept over
so i may be tied to humanity – forever
when I am dead – eternally
take me to the sea
take me to the rocks,
to the edge of the world of earth and age
with no chains or markings or remembrances
let me lie there,
as ash or bone, i do not mind.
let Life take back what it made
until I am once again seashell and star and sound
until I am everything that forged me – and undid me
and look for me, love,
not in gardens of stones and suffocating sorrow
look for me in the tall grasses,
in the streams, the skies, the roots
hear me in the rain, the wind, the crashing waves
speak your sorrows when you speak to the trees,
weep to budding flowers and dying leaves
see me in the mightiest mountains and the smallest valleys
turn to the earth, when you think of me,
and know no matter where you are
if you need me,
I am there.