Here at road’s end
Hunched behind the stonewall crumbling
Nothing but rags and bits
Shredded illusions,
Sharp bone shards
Not much to eat
Sunset, moonrise, stars falling
Gather up those shards,
Dead white, memory of love songs
Tatters of anger
Disappointments , victories covered in mold
I remember your eyes, pleading
And words of betrayal
Sunset, moonrise, stars stilled
Grind the bones one by one,
Filled with marrow of loves, hates,
Marriages, jobs, wasted days and brilliant sunrises
Add garlic, a carrot or two, some rosemary for remembrance,
Sage for wisdom,
Salt with teardrops
Cook down until thick enough to coat the spoon,
A recommended minimum of
Forty days and nights
Then sieve out the bits, let cool the bouillion
To demi-glace, glue for the job at hand
Add compassion and promise and wry acceptance
Sunrise, moonset, stars dimming
Comb out the rags and marabou feathers of that last bright affair,
The tinsel and nail parings, the bits of hair
Spin loose and lumpy
Weave on a loom warped with joy
To lay the table
Here, before the east-facing window
Will you share my meal?
I promise moonlight, candles and bright stars
Lighting the table
And a complex stew,
This soup,
Just the start of the feast.
Sunset, moonrise, stars singing
copyright Judith Jenness 2007
