All That Remains

An urn, classic I suppose; half jet, half brass

and swirled in the manner of the yin-yang sign, 

containing your ashes, anchors the display, 

dead centre (you’ll excuse the expression). 

Your stethoscope is draped to one corner; near it, 

Transition: A Mental Autobiography by Will Durant 

sits on a plate stand – presumably a book that meant a lot to you. 

On the other side, near the familiar photo 

of your wife and you – the one you kept 

in your office and that was used at your memorial, 

also on a plate stand, there’s a small ceramic turtle. 

Did you like turtles? I didn’t know that – 

something else I didn’t know …