Gold survives the fire that's hot enough
to make you ashes in a standard urn.
An envelope of course official buff
contains your wedding ring that wouldn't burn.
Dad told me I'd to tell them at St. James's
the ring should go in the incinerator.
That “eternity” inscribed with both their names is
his surety that they'd be together, “later”.
I signed for the parcelled clothing as the son,
the cardy, apron, pants, bra, dress-
The clerk phoned down, 6- 8- 8- 3- 1?
Has she still her ring on? (Slight pause) Yes!
It's on my warm palm now, your burnished ring!
I feel your ashes, head, arms, breasts, womb, legs,
sift through its circle slowly, like that thing
you used to let me watch to time the eggs.
The only single line stanza forms a dramatic climax. The poet is holding the poetically ‘burnished’ ring, in the palm of his hand, is if trying to grasp and hold on to the essence of his mother. That his palm is ‘warm’ suggests love and tenderness. He addresses her as if she is still alive, with the second person singular ‘your’.
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