A Soulful Broth

a soulful broth

yes, that's what i'll

cook myself today,

it's raining this afternoon

i know you called to let me know

you'd like in

but you know what i'm afraid of?

the adage; there's just enough cooking

for one to do,

too many just land up doing

what they say one too many cooks do.

so this is my venture.

the pot's on the boil now

and the shrooms are in

i'll step back a bit, for in the water are my memories.

simmering. rising.

reminding me of quiet towns that live

on top of coal fields burning underneath

precariously.

there are evident fissures, but people go about their business

like it happens in my life too

suddenly the Uber halts and outside is a man with

- matted hair, uncut for years

- cleft lip

- crooked teeth

- missing an arm

no photos taken, no uploads, no #s

i don't bat an eyelid and go back to my phone

i just ignored a tear on the face of the earth

but it was no tsunami

Never mind.

the pot's crying out loud

i garnish. i stir.