ELEGY Poem: scatter my bones, by Nita Jade

don’t y’all cry over Me. I was a good woman. celebrate Me. ~OG Queen
…come celebrate / with me that everyday / something has tried to kill me / and has failed. ~Lucille Clifton

it turns out the ash ain’t ash at all
but bone burned clean

all remnants of life give in
to the flame but the marrow,

the remnants blessed, are
pleasant pyre purge. 67 years

of thick skin levitating, flesh & bone
giving in while standing up to

the fire. our brilliant Matriarch
found Her loophole.