The Bitter Celebrates
Mention gateways and mythologies
and I see openings to paths
better left unseen. No choice is
choice,
but preparation leads us astray as well.
Take this bitter leaf.
Call it arugula.
Call it rocket.
Call it colewort or weed.
Dress it with oil and vinegar,
with garlic and lemon.
Add tomato, salt.
Though you try to conceal it,
the bitterness remains.
But back to gates and myths. Do they truly
lead us out, or do we
circle back, returning
to the same endings
again
and again.
Remove the snake, rodents return.
Seal the hole.
Take this leaf.
Voice those words.
Close that door.
“The Bitter Celebrates” first appeared in Amethyst Review in December 2018.
O at the Edges 
It gave me chills.. mixing the physical with the abstract with such grace, the metaphors are simply out of this world; and God how much meaning! Wow, just wow!
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You are so kind, Jackie! Thank you very much. I’m pleased it resonated with you.
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Amen!
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I love this thoughtful philosophical piece! So easy to be lead astray and taken advantage of when we are desperate for answers we will never find! Best live a day at a time and make it the best one we can showing love and compassion to all.
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Thanks, Dwight. I’m determined not to be so easily led astray any more. But it’s difficult!
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One can’t turn on the TV with out being harassed with this kind of thing!
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Which is one reason I seldom turn on the tv. 🙂
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