Sunday, October 14, 2012

Midnight Snack


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.

60 comments:

  1. Mary,

    I 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

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    1. Ah, you're welcome Eileen. Those are lovely times. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  2. I am such a fan of your poetry ....

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  3. I like the homely magic..specially lovely is the last stanza ~

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    1. Thank you Grace. This picture touched happy, comforting places in me.

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  4. Good food and conversational togetherness: what could be nicer at any time day or night.

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  5. You 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.

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    1. Thank you Doctor. I am partial to layers... I'm glad the cinnamon and safety work for you.

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    2. The cinnamon safety was my favourite bit too - it made my nostrils quiver! LOL

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  6. until 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
    in a communion of teacups...it adds a layer of spirituality as well...

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    1. Thanks Brian, I always appreciate your input. You never fail!

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  7. I really enjoyed the "homely magic" of this poem :-)

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  8. Just being together at home
    All under one dome
    Can surely bring many together
    No matter the weather

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    1. Hey, thanks Pat, family should be like that. :o)

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  9. love the image of stories rising with the steam.

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  10. This 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.

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    1. I'm glad this brought back a comfy memory...I think of my grandparents too!

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  11. love the homely magic...very heart warming poem.

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  12. Buttermilk light! yup- and that worn linoleum, Wow.
    My best friend had a cabin upstate in the woods, where stood still and wrapped us! thanks.

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    1. Ah, a cabin in the woods...sounds great. I'm glad this brought back a good memory for you. Thanks for reading.

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  13. This is just magic! I felt so comfortable and homely reading this with "cinnamon and safety". I really enjoyed this beautifully written piece :)

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  14. I really like this. So much is said so simply.

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  15. "Warm, buttermilk light wraps
    around 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!

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  16. Ooh... you did it. You captured the essence of the family kitchen and made me feel warm and safe.

    Great phrases: Communion of teacups. Buttermilk light.

    Brava, Mary!

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  17. Love that buttermilk light...delicious...

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  18. I appreciate things that leave me to draw some of my own conclusions. ~Mary

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    1. :o) Thanks. Always good to 'see' you Mary. Take care.

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  19. wow i got this. some many memories of conversations in kitchens and how they drew my family closer

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    1. Thanks Michael; I'm glad I tapped into some good memories for you.

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  20. Ah , the witches brew, but they seem like nice ones that i would be happy to know ! .

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    1. lol, Yes, witches and wolves frequently get a bad rap.

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  21. This has a good feel about it. It comes from the form and the crafting as much as from the substance. Congrats.

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  22. Wonderfully descriptive - especially 'communion of teacups'.

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  23. Those last lines pull the warmth of your poem together beautifully Mary!!

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  24. Beautiful imagery. I love the coziness you've created here.

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  25. I do love this one.

    Some of my favorite phrases:

    infused with cinnamon and safety.
    Warm, buttermilk light wraps
    around our shoulders

    and more.

    =)

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  26. The warmth and comfort here are palpable ... making me smile during the whole reading.

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    1. Aww, thank you Raven. I'm glad it evokes good memories for you.

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    2. Thank you so much Raven. I'm glad you felt the comfort.

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  27. until we belong.. a beautiful closure. Love this.

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  28. This 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. :-)

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    1. Thank you so much. These sort of times are so precious.

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