https://harpers.org/archive/2021/10/to-be-a-field-of-poppies-natural-organic-reduction-composting-corpse/ * * Sign in Sign in to access Harper's Magazine Close X Email address [ ] Password [ ] [Sign in] Need to create a login? Want to change your email address or password? Forgot your password? 1. Sign in to Customer Care using your account number or postal address. 2. Select Email/Password Information. 3. Enter your new information and click on Save My Changes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Locked out of your account? Get help here. Subscribers can find additional help here. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today! Get Access to Print and Digital for $23.99. Subscribe for Full Access Get Access to Print and Digital for $23.99. Subscribe for Full Access [logo] * Archive * Sections * Authors * About * Store * Newsletters * Search * Current Issue * The Latest * Search * Archive * Sections * Authors * About * Store * Newsletters * Search [Report] To Be a Field of Poppies By Lisa Wells, The elegant science of turning cadavers into compost [Harpers_10] Clear Cut (detail), by Dustin Yellin. All artwork (c) The artist. Artwork photographed by Martyna Szczesna [Report] To Be a Field of Poppies By Lisa Wells, The elegant science of turning cadavers into compost Adjust Share Amigo Bob Cantisano didn't think he was going to die. But his wife, Jenifer Bliss, who had cared for him through eight years of throat cancer, could see that his condition had taken a turn for the worse. The tumor in his neck had imploded, leaving an open wound that Jenifer kept clean and dressed. Little by little, it was growing toward his carotid artery. The doctors warned he could bleed out any day. "I believe your spirit will live on," she told him, "but your body isn't doing so good. It's important to talk about what you want." ... Subscribe or log in to continue reading. [0001] From the October 2021 issue Download PDF From the Archive Timeless stories from our 171-year archive handpicked to speak to the news of the day. Email address [ ] Sign Up Got it! Thanks for signing up! Related The Republic of Literature thumbnail [Fiction] The Republic of Literature From the novel Silverview By John le Carre, Good Mother thumbnail [Memoir] Good Mother Custody and care in the shadow of colonization By Sierra Crane Murdoch, "Put on the Diamonds" thumbnail [Essay] "Put on the Diamonds" Notes on humiliation By Vivian Gornick, Lisa Wells is the author, most recently, of Believers: Making a Life at the End of the World, which was published in July by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Tags Amigo Bob Cantisano Bells Mountain (Wash.) Burial Compost Cremation Dead bodies (Law) Embalming Funeral rites and ceremonies Katrina Spade Natural organic reduction Recompose (Natural organic reduction company : Kent (Wash.)) Washington (State) More from Lisa Wells [066__HA041] Nightmares at 20,000 Feet On the dread of looking down Adjust Share [logo] Sections + Current Issue Advertising Internships + The Latest Contact Classifieds Frequently Asked Questions + Archive Masthead Submissions Manage Your Subscription + About Media Store Privacy Policy Subscribe for Full Access * Current Issue Advertising Internships * The Latest Contact Classifieds Frequently Asked Questions * Archive Masthead Submissions Manage Your Subscription * About Media Store Privacy Policy (c) Copyright 2021 Harper's Magazine Foundation Do Not Sell My Personal Information [Animated-Email-FINALWR] x < Previous Issue | View All Issues | Next Issue > October 2021 * 0001.png * 0002.png * 0003.png * 0004.png * 0005.png * 0006.png * 0007.png * 0008.png * 0009.png * 0010.png * 0011.png * 0012.png * 0013.png * 0014.png * 0015.png * 0016.png * 0017.png * 0018.png * 0019.png * 0020.png * 0021.png * 0022.png * 0023.png * 0024.png * 0025.png * 0026.png * 0027.png * 0028.png * 0029.png * 0030.png * 0031.png * 0032.png * 0033.png * 0034.png * 0035.png * 0036.png * 0037.png * 0038.png * 0039.png * 0040.png * 0041.png * 0042.png * 0043.png * 0044.png * 0045.png * 0046.png * 0047.png * 0048.png * 0049.png * 0050.png * 0051.png * 0052.png * 0053.png * 0054.png * 0055.png * 0056.png * 0057.png * 0058.png * 0059.png * 0060.png * 0061.png * 0062.png * 0063.png * 0064.png * 0065.png * 0066.png * 0067.png * 0068.png * 0069.png * 0070.png * 0071.png * 0072.png * 0073.png * 0074.png * 0075.png * 0076.png * 0077.png * 0078.png * 0079.png * 0080.png * 0081.png * 0082.png * 0083.png * 0084.png * 0085.png * 0086.png * 0087.png * 0088.png * 0089.png * 0090.png * 0091.png * 0092.png * 0093.png * 0094.png * 0095.png * 0096.png * 0097.png * 0098.png * 0099.png * 0100.png < Previous Issue | View All Issues | Next Issue > Table of Contents Close [ajax]