Behold the curious chemist's cell
when he would gain the essential salts of plants
he turns them all to ash, the stuff of soap and
from the death revives a perfect work,
restores to life the secret source of ideas enclosed
within the tomb, lilies and roses,
roots, branches, stalks, leaves and flowers
that reveal to our eyes the brightest of hues
having the fire for father, ash for mother:
their resurrection then may teach the fearful
that those who are burned, ashes cast tot he winds,
rise up again more lively and more lovely than before.
Agrippa d'Aubugne, Les tragiques, Book V11
