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Breadmaking |
When does breadmaking begin?
Does it start when flour is sifted
or before, when wheat is harvested,
or when wheat is planted in
visions of hot loaves steaming from
the oven?
Does butter begin when churn is turned
or cow is milked
or when fat calf cries for grain,
is nursed with bottles so there will be
milk and cheese and butter
for bread?
This kiss did not begin
when your lips touched mine,
when my knee touched yours,
when we closed the door to be alone.
It was planted
in the chance look I gave you in a bar,
thinking how much you look like someone
I remember kissing
although kissing wasn't on my mind.
It harvested the careless toss
of arm on shoulder, hand heavy as a
bale of hay, hair sunbaked wheat.
Each word and smile
pounded dough and squeezed full
udder, cut and pounded wheat to flour,
groundwork for this kiss to rise.
This kiss, fat and hot
steamed from the oven to our lips just
moments ago. But the recipe for
breadmaking has gone on
for days.
(Note: previously published in Loudmouth, 2003)
copyright 2019
Deborah Edler
Brown |
