Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Let's Eat!

Today would have been my mother's 70th birthday - a fact which would amaze & confound her. I wanted to write something profound, but my muse is still on its summer hiatus. So I'm reposting a poem I wrote over a year ago - it was a response to a magpie prompt (a picture of garlic). It's one of the poems that makes me remember my mom in a visceral way - and it's about food, which was very important to our relationship - ha!

In My Mind's Eye

In my mind’s eye one final time
I taste the garlic and the lime
I watch the hands prepare the feast
And feel again that kitchen peace

I know again that you are fine
I close my eyes against their shine
Behind my lids I cross the line
The fine thin line with no surcease
In my mind’s eye

I hear you humming and the chime
I feel your heart in synch with mine
I beat back the grasp of the beast
With the intimacy of grease

You haven’t left and so we dine
In my mind’s eye

11 comments:

  1. That is a wonderful poem Dana. So full of emotion....makes me teary.

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  2. I also associate garlic with my mom.

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  3. Sometimes the most peaceful place to be is in your mind's eye. I hope it gives you solace to go there.

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  4. How wonderful to dine with your mom in your mind's eye. I loved it.

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  5. Absolutely beautiful! Well penned.

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  6. Wistful and tender. Not overdone, really like it.

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  7. How beautiful this is, and how much it touches on that which many find to be a familiar experience with their own mothers.

    I watch the hands prepare the feast
    And feel again that kitchen peace

    And how interesting that a pic of garlic inspired this. We never know what will take us to that place.

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  8. I love this. It's been just a year since Mom went into the hospital - she actually went in Memorial Day weekend and died July 8. We don't ever forget, we just begin to remember in a new and often quite comforting way.

    Love the poem.

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Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear what you have to say!

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