For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace.

No! It is thrown in the fire for fuel; when the fire has burned up both ends of it and it is charred in the middle, will it be useful for anything?

Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred?

Pile up the bones, kindle the fire; cook the meat well, mix in the spices, let the bones be charred.