Fulfilling Work
Wash fresh kale, some spinach,
letting the water run
in its cold stream through
fingers, straining, the way words
risk a trip through your mind
with the mantra you repeat
every morning to hold yourself
together. Regard the pulp
you pull from blood oranges,
the green tails of carrots
you discard, the tough fibrous
shell you have to remove
before sliding your knife
the length of the leek wrapped
inside. Know the plausibility
of ending the task you've begun.
Be intentional when you add
flash-frozen organic blueberries
and watch the purple of each
tiny pebble blend, your thumb
on the button, still pulsing.
Regard now the bits of apple
you chop: how on a good day
there's plenty for pairing
with cheese and a wine, how
on a bad your hand slips
into its rhythm, fulfilling work
you, not content, make more.
© 2013 Maureen E. Doallas
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
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7 comments:
Maureen, very tasty and thoughtful poem. I enjoyed reading! Thanks
interesting...i like the adding of the blueberry...and the apple...and good and bad days come....its often in what we do in them...
It is an apt testament for knowing the joy of the moment, being aware and fully immersed in it.
Were you able to compose this while keeping your appetite at bay?
Cheers
And we should approah all our tasks thus...nice.
All this attention to a meal... I hope it was shared. Otherwise, this has a sad ring to it, somehow. ...
I enjoyed reading this poem, Maureen. The contrasting themes beautifully laid out. The introspection that occurs while preparing one the most precious commodities know to mankind--food. I always enjoy your work my friend. All the best to you.
I love the way your poems make images in my mind of my own life--my own mornings, the choices I must make each day. This is beautiful, Maureen.
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