Dust to Dust

Scattering the ashes of a distant great-aunt
Over frozen Nebraskan soil
She lifted her arms high,
well above her head,
threw them to the east-blowing wind.
There was an article once read
that floated to her mind,
about star-stuff and things like that.
She linked her arms in a circuit
finger crossed over finger
arm over arm, hugged close
to her breast,
Shut her eyes and watched the scene
Imagined dancing as dust across the cosmos.

I was your Nebraskan aunt, I think
I once blinked, and bled, and cried.
You didn't make the connection,
felt folded in youth,
When you should know you're dead and dying.