Grace@Everyday Amazing
lightly hued by evening rain --
maple trees are bare of leaves,
cold breeze nips as squirrels run about --
(what a depressing weather, no color in the sky)
inside the kitchen,
i stir the pre-mixed pancake with water
in the bowl, a breakfast treat for my teen daughter -
"Please Mom" line always gets me --
(my little girl needs me still, i don't mind really)
butter quickly melts in the pan,
as i carefully scoop the mixture and chocolate chips,
beside me, my older son is cutting and paring
carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spices on wooden board --
(that board is heavy and covers a lot of kitchen space)
"Mom, please don't use my stuff when you are cooking meat,"
and I say, "Of course," because I don't want to step into his space -
tiny but hard-fought and precious in the last year -
(these young adults need their own space, no meat please) --
soon the aroma of Italian sauce for his brunch
sizzles in his saucepan, waffling with
my crispy buttered pancakes --
our differences, his choices versus mine, fold under
warmth of our conversation -- light and carefree --
"How about I prepare this sauce for Christmas eve?", he offers.
(i am really looking forward to a peaceful holiday)
I smile, pouring more syrup on my pancakes
sweeter, just the way i like them.
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Acting, Poetry and The First Person Narrative
Shared with Poets United
Thanks for the visit ~
Love this family story, Grace. And yes, the differences with food preferences, as children grow up, have to be respected. I loved the parentheticals.
ReplyDeletenice...pretty cool when they start cooking for you....my youngest loves pancakes as well...about the only thing he will eat for breakfast...ha...the big thing right now is the shapes i can get them in...this was a fun glimpse into you home this morning...they still need you...that feels good...but know they always will...smiles.
ReplyDeleteGrace, this piece embodies exactly what I was thinking as I wrote the article. Fantastic use of first person and I love how your voice changes when you're in the inner monologue. Perfect example for this prompt. Thanks so much for incorporating the acting elements into the poetry and for sharing it tonight.
ReplyDeleteThe inner and outer dialogues are good techniques Fred ~ Thanks for the lovely prompt ~
Deletethis is lovely...the peaceful cooking next to each other in the kitchen, respecting each others space and finding that connection...keeping the conversation going when they grow up, not always easy but so rewarding...thanks for allowing us a glimpse into your kitchen...smiles
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely snapshot of family in the kitchen... as Claudia said there is such respect for each others choices yet you all still come together as one. Lovely write.
ReplyDeleteChloe always asks the same thing on the weekends. Can we have pancakes for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteLoved this gentle slice of family life in your kitchen Grace.
Captured a moment indeed here at your feed. Not that I like pancakes what so ever, but I can surely relate to needing a different eating endeavor, although bring on the meat, i.e. chicken.
ReplyDeleteLove all the sensory details in your writing, and the blend of dialogue internal and external, painting a happy picture of family. It's a tough thing to pull off--getting that peaceful balance with young adults.
ReplyDeleteYou paint a lovely scene in this poem. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteA lovely family scene this is. Special moments to be savoured and remembered. Funny how preparing food together with someone so often brings us closer to them. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteVivid... makes my mouth water, even though when I eat pancakes for breakfast I get he shakes two hours later.
ReplyDeleteYou said so much here, through sauce and chocolate chip pancakes.
ReplyDeleteNice how this goes beyond what's on the menu to respecting each other's way of being...that's what makes successful families and happier people. Lovely, Grace.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace! Lost my comment, I think. It sounds like you are handling all these morning egg shells very well! A very vivid scene well told. Really vividly done. k.
ReplyDeleteThose morning egg shells are very fragile and needs special care ~ Thanks K ~
DeleteA nice family poem ... have a great Christmas preparation time :-)
ReplyDelete..Grace, this is so delicious both in my tongue and in my heart...a kind of bonding that's n
ReplyDeleteso uncommon amongst the families these days... and who can resist your offering today? it's as carefully laid as the pancake in pan...... smiles...
Great descriptive writing. Well done.
ReplyDeleteVery nice :)
ReplyDeleteThe first person narrative brings the scene to life - I believe every word of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kerry ~
DeleteGrace, this is one of those enviable slice of life moments that speaks volumes about how we might be for each other: The meals we make together, coming to the table, and what we let each other bring--your son is the sugar on the morning which, with the taste of your own extra sugar, brings smiles all around. (Having never been a mother, I wonder how mothers can ever know which things not to say aloud as they encourage self hood and let go. You do well.)
ReplyDeleteMotherhood is actually a trial and error process ~ You eventually learn not to say certain things ~ He is my second son, so I learned a lot from handling my first born.
DeleteThanks Susan ~
This is lovely Grace. It reminded me of happy times shared cooking with my Mum.
ReplyDeletecosy and snug.have a wonderful holiday ahead.love the sense of domestic bliss.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful moment in time...the culinary senses you mingle with reflection on your children's growing up. Thanks for sharing, Grace.
ReplyDeleteI love the shared and personal spaces in your poem, an art form in itself.
ReplyDeleteahh...what a sweet mom you are. One of my sons loves to cook too, this made made me smile and think of him. And now I have a huge craving for buttery, syrupy pancakes...
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating it is when dependent children gradually develop dependent independence. It seems that it's working well.
ReplyDeleteHello my dear friend Grace, and I was reading your website, I just wanna say I really love it! The overall look of your website is fantastic , as well as the content! Congratulations for your amazing work ! I follow your blog (152)... Hope you'll follow me back.... I wish you Happiness and Joy… And Blessings for the New Year. I wish you the best of everything… That you so well deserve.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Rio de Janeiro/ Brasil
Nelson
What a great slice of home life you've served spiced with reality, yummy!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely. A happy home. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteAh, sweet relationship
ReplyDeleteI love that he joins you in the cooking for celebration.
ReplyDeletePerfection!
ReplyDelete"Our differences fold under the warmth of conversation."
ReplyDeleteVery nice snap shot!
Well written story unfolding. Beautiful
ReplyDeleteYou've offered a glimpse, poetic and sweet, into domestic life at its best. Just lovely on both a literal and an emotional level.
ReplyDeleteah yes, I'm watching changes in my girls too, now that one has gone off to college and the other is growing up so quickly... beautiful poem.
ReplyDeletei'd like to eat a little of everything, please! :-)
ReplyDelete