sipping stardust

he unscrews the lid.
i peer into
the depths of a jar.

we hiked up the bluff
of my childhood haunt
to help fly her home.

mom’s ashes clutched
in dad's palm,
a bottle of wine
in mine.

we take turns talking
about her,
tears choking
syllables
from our sentences

a breathless pause,
we watch her rise 
to a tempestuous wind
engulfing us whole.

i look to dad,
ash matted to face,
sobbing, smiling
both of us standing cliff side
coated in mom.

raising a dusty bottle,
we drank to her love,
her love into us,
sipping stardust.