Ash Wednesday

In an effort to be au courant, as well as attuned to the zeitgeist, the Vatican has announced several changes to the words pronounced when ashes are administered on Ash Wednesday. The traditional form, derived from Genesis 3:19 (see below) is reserved as an option, in accordance with the wishes of the administering priest:

Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.

For those insisting on Latin:

Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.

Among the new variations, still in draft form, and subject to approval by national bishops' conferences, are the following:

Remember, nonbinarian, that they are dust and unto dust they shall return.

Remember, you are organic, locally sourced dust and unto dust (i.e., sustainable soil) you'll eventually return to a carbon-neutral footprint.

Remember, privileged patriarch, you are dust, nothing but dust, and your world order is crumbling like dust.

Remember, matriarchal goddess, you are Earth Mother cosmic dust, nurturing stars and planets and galaxies forever.

Remember, venerable vegan, you are gluten-free dust. No animals were harmed in creating these plant-based ashes.

Remember, white privileged capitalist consumer elitist, y'all ain't nothin' but dust and the revolution will not be televised (but it will be recorded on our phones).

echo chamber

Say it again. And again n n n n . Re-re-re-re-reverb erb erb erb. Anyone here? Anyone hear? Echo and Narcissus. Waves. Repercussions. Re-echo. sierra echo x-ray. A room of one's own. Cathedral choral. Chamber music. Sacred sound. Ordinary space. Ordinary sound. Rippling. Less less less less less gone. Repeat beat. Narcissus and Echo. Solo. Vox. Voice. Void. Hollow. Hallow. Hollow. Hallow. Hollow.

how cold is it?

It's so cold:

• outdoor statues are wearing coats
• a witches's tits are wearing a heated bra
• Frosty the Snowman slept in the garage
• squirrels are hiding nuts in Aruba
• polar bears are applying to become equatorial bears
• I can't think of anymore
• add your own

space available

The large sign on the brick building said, "Space Available" with a phone number listed beneath it.

Is Space Available:

• in my mind
• in my heart
• in my pants
• in the closet
• in the neighborhood
• on the margins
• in the wallet
• under the couch
• in the trunk
• under my memory
• under the mattress
• between the buttons
• at the corner of Straight and Narrow
• below the truth
• under the fear
• within faith
• within disbelief
• throughout a doubt
• down the blouse
• up the ante
• between the lines
• without a hope
• in the blink of an eye
• after all is said and done
• in my soul
• in their certainty
• beyond the pale
• during despair
• after the deluge
• against the grain
• among the crowd
• under the sheets
• across the lie
• in your heart
• in their hearts
• in our hearts
• beyond time
• beyond space

trespasses

forgive us our traipsing, mine and yours, yours and mine; who said we could go there; he she it they them; who had the right, the passport, the visa, to enter such a forbidden land; to transgress; to go beyond; to cross the border; unmapped territory; uncharted waters mostly icebergs; what right; and to expect no consequences beyond the pale, beyond the pale skin; disregard the boundaries, the warnings, the posted signs; to violate; to cross over; beyond the beyond; forgive us ours as we forgive theirs; to leave one zone and enter another; your papers, please; your documents; the fingerprint; facial recognition scan; whatever made us think we could go there; what ever made me think I could escape unscathed