We have a natural antipathy to dust, perhaps because it's something we can't control. Dust is ubiquitous. Dust exceeds our ability to clean as it sparkles in the sun drifting through windows.
Dust symbolizes the useless and unclean. In the Bible, the Apostles were instructed to knock the dust of inhospitable towns from their sandals on the way out. (This is especially noteworthy as feet were seen as unclean in that culture.) Dusting is a regular part of housecleaning, and neglecting to do it will raise the scorn of neighbors.
Dust inspires poetry about death and mortality. "Unto dust you shall return ..." declares the Roman Catholic mass on Ash Wednesday.
We do not like to think about dust. We will never love dust, and that is fine. We will fight dust, like we fight filth, like we fight against death.
But in the end, it will win.
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