Phoenix

Maire Fisher

(A woman had her husband's ashes made into an egg timer when he died so he could still "help" in the kitchen. http://www.thisistrue.com/)

She sets the timer:
hard-boiled eggs for supper tonight,
a small tub of chocolate mousse.

No worries now,
no watching her figure,
no balancing meals.

She glues her life together
with sticky treats
and comfort food.

He liked meat,
three vegetables,
hated experimental cooking,
compared her meals to his mother's.

Ash filters down,
the finest part of him.

She traces the grain of the table,
remembers
how he'd thump it,
push his chair away
and lumber to the television.

Scraping pots,
washing dishes,
swabbing counters clean,
she heard canned laughter.

A friend pops in.
They kick off their shoes.
Ignoring dirty dishes,
they drink fine red wine
from crystal glasses
he said were too good to use.

She leans back in her chair,
flicks the timer over.

It helps her to know
he is there,
grating against glass.

LitNet: 9 December 2004

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