Ashes fall over the land
tracing on everyone
crescents, crosses, and stars. 

In every family a pieta
mothers holding their children
in shelters, trains leaving.

I touch my finger to the bowl
smear myself with ashes
from a land faraway.
_________________________________________________________________
Portland, Oregon - March 2, 2022

On this Ash Wednesday of the Christian tradition, this is for the peoples of Ukraine in their horror forced on them by a madman.