The Tomato-coloured Couch 5:42pm
My Kitchen is a one-woman
affair
with “everything at My Fingertips”
as voiced by a former neighbour
from Shelburne where The Kitchen
was a communal eat-in
in the very old Shakespeare House —
The Kitchen in Atlantic
opened out to the rest of the downstairs
& there I never felt It was Mine anyway
“My Kitchen” as I feel here on The Hawk
where I cook giant casseroles
to eat by the week
& where I am happy
even putting away the dishes
The Hawk Kitchen 2:52pm
Black Jesus was busy today
in Her Black Jesus Kitchen
She cooked peppers that were going bad
–for spaghetti sauce–
macaroni for Eliza & Tyler
when They get back from Their first night
on The Island
Shepherd’s Pie with corned beef
from The Hawk Basement
She listened to Her Black Jesus Radio
& drank Her Black Jesus Tea
–She was busy all right–
She even did two loads of laundry
still hanging
on Her Black Jesus
Line
I am waiting in The Fog
with audible surf
and the occasional call
from a sea bird
–
waiting for The World
to collapse
but I somehow doubt It will:
The World is like A Very Strong Mother–
She may lie down for a nap
but always fixes supper
She may live in Her Bathrobe
yet maintains Her Modesty
She cleans when She feels like it
and gets Her Children to clean up
after Themselves
–
She loves everybody in Her House
Her Home is Her Sanctuary
She Is Her Own World
Joanna Gilman Hyde 