There is homely magic
in this late-night kitchen.
We gather
in a communion of teacups
resting on worn Formica,
encircled by elbows
and infused with cinnamon and safety.
Warm, buttermilk light wraps
around our shoulders
like a 60-watt blanket.
It spills from the windows
carving shapes in the night.
Together we weave
our disparate stories.
They rise like steam before us,
between us;
twisting and converging
until we belong.
The image Midnight
Snack, by Curtis Wilson Cost is offered as a writing prompt at The Mag. Join us.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI felt the love and companionship which comes from the scenes such as you have written about.. I remember having such fun nights with my children, gathered around sharing stories. Thank you for helping me to recall those special moments:)
Eileen
Ah, you're welcome Eileen. Those are lovely times. Thanks for reading and commenting.
DeleteI am such a fan of your poetry ....
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you so much Helen!
DeleteI like the homely magic..specially lovely is the last stanza ~
ReplyDeleteThank you Grace. This picture touched happy, comforting places in me.
DeleteGood food and conversational togetherness: what could be nicer at any time day or night.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. :o)
DeleteYou are so good at making everyday things into images and/or metaphors of something much deeper. Selecting from them all is invidious, but I particularly like the second verse and the "cinnamon and safety" encapsulating family life. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you Doctor. I am partial to layers... I'm glad the cinnamon and safety work for you.
DeleteThe cinnamon safety was my favourite bit too - it made my nostrils quiver! LOL
DeleteThank you Penny, lol.
Deleteuntil we belong...that is a beautiful closure...i think that opportunity is often found around the table in the home...also really like...We gather
ReplyDeletein a communion of teacups...it adds a layer of spirituality as well...
Thanks Brian, I always appreciate your input. You never fail!
DeleteI really enjoyed the "homely magic" of this poem :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ben. :o)
DeleteBeautifully done...
ReplyDeleteThank you Berowne!
DeleteJust being together at home
ReplyDeleteAll under one dome
Can surely bring many together
No matter the weather
Hey, thanks Pat, family should be like that. :o)
Deletelove the image of stories rising with the steam.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lime :o)
DeleteThis reminds me of my family and I long ago... sitting around the table at my grandparents house with our piping hot bowls of gumbo. The night dark and cold.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this brought back a comfy memory...I think of my grandparents too!
Deletelove the homely magic...very heart warming poem.
ReplyDeleteButtermilk light! yup- and that worn linoleum, Wow.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend had a cabin upstate in the woods, where stood still and wrapped us! thanks.
Ah, a cabin in the woods...sounds great. I'm glad this brought back a good memory for you. Thanks for reading.
DeleteThis is just magic! I felt so comfortable and homely reading this with "cinnamon and safety". I really enjoyed this beautifully written piece :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much P and I!
DeleteI really like this. So much is said so simply.
ReplyDelete"Warm, buttermilk light wraps
ReplyDeletearound our shoulders..."
I love the image you have painted above, Mary. Reminds me of the late night chats shared with my son over apple cinnamon tea...beautiful capture, my friend!
Thank you Ginny. :o)
DeleteOoh... you did it. You captured the essence of the family kitchen and made me feel warm and safe.
ReplyDeleteGreat phrases: Communion of teacups. Buttermilk light.
Brava, Mary!
Oh, thank you Kim!
DeleteA really beautiful piece!
ReplyDeleteThanks Frances :o)
DeleteLove that buttermilk light...delicious...
ReplyDeleteThank you Tess. Great prompt.
DeleteI appreciate things that leave me to draw some of my own conclusions. ~Mary
ReplyDelete:o) Thanks. Always good to 'see' you Mary. Take care.
Deletewow i got this. some many memories of conversations in kitchens and how they drew my family closer
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael; I'm glad I tapped into some good memories for you.
DeleteAh , the witches brew, but they seem like nice ones that i would be happy to know ! .
ReplyDeletelol, Yes, witches and wolves frequently get a bad rap.
DeleteThis has a good feel about it. It comes from the form and the crafting as much as from the substance. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully descriptive - especially 'communion of teacups'.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nell!
DeleteThose last lines pull the warmth of your poem together beautifully Mary!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie. :o)
DeleteBeautiful imagery. I love the coziness you've created here.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
DeleteI do love this one.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite phrases:
infused with cinnamon and safety.
Warm, buttermilk light wraps
around our shoulders
and more.
=)
Thank you Sue. :o)
ReplyDeleteThe warmth and comfort here are palpable ... making me smile during the whole reading.
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you Raven. I'm glad it evokes good memories for you.
DeleteThank you so much Raven. I'm glad you felt the comfort.
Deleteuntil we belong.. a beautiful closure. Love this.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ayala :o)
DeleteThis is beautiful. I am reminded of the time when my girlfriends and I have sleepovers and spend our night talking and chatting until we all zonk out. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. These sort of times are so precious.
Delete