I’ll Turn But Clouds Appear
You gather and disperse and nothing I do salves my hunger.
Where are you, if not here among the roots of dead flowers
or inches below the window’s opening
in the leaf-filtered light. Or spread across
the ceiling, caught in filaments of expelled
hope. Savoring motion, I look up and address the Dog Stars,
longing to catch your attention. But clouds muffle
my words, and instead I turn
to the fragrance of tomato and garlic and spice
wafting into the night. What could bring you back?
Not love. Not wine. Not solitude, nor the sound of my voice.
I spoon out the sauce, cautiously, and wait.
* * *
“I’ll Turn but Clouds Appear” first appeared in Bindlestiff.
O at the Edges 
You and food have a fascinating relationship! Great poem…
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Thanks, Daniel. Well, I love to cook and eat, and feel that cooking is an excellent creative outlet. And I get to eat the results!
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I like to eat and then lie down…cooking is too much thinking and hassle.
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Ha! For me it’s a ritual that offers the pleasure of producing something greater than its individual components, of using multiple senses to do so – hearing, smell, touch, taste – and practicing the art of timing while making separate dishes. And then we eat, followed by another favorite ritual, dishwashing. Goofy, I know, but there it is. 🙂
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For me lying down is a ritual that offers the pleasure of producing nothing at all, nothing greater than anything else, using no senses whatsoever. I would way rather do all the housecleaning, shopping, taxes, laundry and yard work combined… than cook a single dish.
Nothing beats a day of housework followed by a quick visit to Yoshinoya, then watch sumo on TV… paradise!
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My wife feels the same as you about cooking, so I do most of it and the grocery shopping, which I also enjoy. A good division of labor!
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Your wife has the right idea! BUT… food is an art and those of us who enjoy not cooking should deeply appreciate those that do.
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There are similarities between cooking and poetry, but I must admit that I’m much more organized in cooking. With poetry, I never have an idea what the end result will be. With cooking, I have definite hopes and ideas. 🙂
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Cooking is really easy. Walk 10 feet in any direction in Osaka, Japan, and order takoyaki… pure heaven… beyond heaven… the texture alone is enough to make you break down and cry with joy…
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Mmm…takoyaki!
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Sometimes we must satisfy ourselves with thoughts.
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A little pasta helps. 🙂
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beautifully done!
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Thank you, Sarah!
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so tender…
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Thank you, Nancie.
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Stars, sauce. Another day lived to our limits.
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It’s often difficult to separate the firmament from whatever’s bubbling in the pot. And why should we?
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Amen to that! 🙂
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Hello. Thank you very much. Your poems speak well. Come back and read more from my blog. Share it with others. Take care.
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I’m so pleased you stopped by. Thank you.
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The sauce looks delicious Robert, I’m turning back to savour, and there shall be wine.
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Something dry with a strong oak finish would do the trick.
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Of course, I’ve got another bottle of Chateau Tanunda, Grenache, the finish is long with-grained tannins and seasoned in American and French oak barrels.
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Perfect! I’ll be right over. Maybe I’ll pass your albatross.
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Hmmm, that book must weigh a ton, my albatross is not here yet. We’ll just have to drink the wine first.
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Perhaps the metaphors have weighed it down…
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😯😁
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Eating spaghetti is a great metaphor
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And is a fine occupation on its own!
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It is indeed: https://derrickjknight.com/2014/07/14/spaghetti-and-how-to-eat-it/
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It is so satisfying to roll a half-pound of noodles on your fork!
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So much of life is waiting. (K)
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I’ve become much better at it as I’ve aged…
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It may be that we’re just tired.
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There’s more truth in that than I wish to admit.
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This is really beautiful!
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Thank you!
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I’ll never experience spaghetti the usual way ever again. 🙂
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I hope that’s a good thing!
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Oh yes.
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Delicious. The anticipation is the best part.
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