Unshakable. What is unshakable in a poem?

An unshakable faith in word and the space in-between. An unshakable exploration of both.



What is unshakable in a meal? The unshakable faith the ripe has in a bowl. Or the human hand to hold.

Malice. Does a poem wish words malice?

Or words, malice to a poem? Neither, I believe. (And what faith-system might that be?) And yet, there are wicked poems and poems wickedly written and deliciously spoken.



In cooking ingredients, cookware, knife, and recipe need to coexist and soar. Mindfulness with a tinge of heat & laughter. Remember, a tongue is the possibility of flame. I do believe, charred peppers (yellow, orange & red) are a delightful, spirited conversation.

Ritual. Is there a ritual to writing poetry?

Two (not mutual exclusive). (1) Whatever it takes for inspiration. (2) Whatever it takes to create a writing discipline. Candles, do no harm. Neither the cat. Neither a cafe. Nor a museum.



Hunger is a personal ritual to cooking. As is the desire to feed people. Cooking inspires poems; I know this personally.

Intersect. With what does a poem intersect?

A place in words. Thus, sound & memory.

Happy Thanksgiving. Instead of turkey, serve a poem.


GRATEFUL TO BE IN PLACE

All life begins
with a list:

wash windows
clean oven
oil table
prune flowers/change water
open refrig/take inventory

eat the spinach
milk expires in 3 days
fish in less

No stopping you

eat last serving
chicken soup
for breakfast

buy candles
plug in small space heater
cat demands petting
(your intention, anyway)

As you write, the unexpected

a book is a room
& words: sound

Out of somewhere
where you are
not
that Thanksgiving
song

yet
snow-less
& sled-less
& grandmother
some 50 years,
dead

Wet. What is wet poetry?

Wet, as in "behind the ears?"
Wet, as so fresh as the letters are not completely dry?
Wet, as in the subject matter. Rain, monsoon, drownings of all stripes.
Or soggy. Boggy.
Remember, the weight of water overwhelms paper & pen.


So logically we move to wet food. Soups both hot & cold. Mostly steaming & fragrant to the kitchen as flowers to a table. To chicken soup add curried cauliflower. Yes, no one is looking --enjoy it for breakfast. A savory start. Consider, soup as the idea form/format/inspiration for the next poem (as in the last).

Physics. Does poetry adhere to the laws of physics?

Yup. Matter. Bodies of letters falling. Palpable energy.


A good cook understands (perhaps, without verbalizing) the byways of physics. Energy rearranged on a plate for a grateful mouth. For that matter, conversation also.

Glass. Is the surface of a poem like glass?

Definitely. Except when it is as stone and/or crater. Or crinkled paper.


In a meal, the glass surface usually is a container. Except when we are speaking of ice and deliciously and tremendously chilled. As in a martini. Of course, it being also contained by glass.