Dinner for One

the water is boiling     pasta swims

beneath sparingly salted eruptions,

as I uncork the wine     tonight Merlot

splashes into a curved top Bordeaux  

 

the table is set     one plate, one fork,

one wax steeple with a tongue of fire,

and I wait     wait for the sauce to simmer,

a dinner for one nearly done     again

 

you linger in the scent of marinara      still

haunting a kitchen we built as lovers,

and this table keeps memories beyond food,

my hands remember as I lightly stroke the grain

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Melancholy, poignant, and bittersweet....your words are heavy on the reader's eyes. Longing for what once was is palpable. "one wax steeple with a tongue of fire" exquisite imagery, Sarah. Beautifully written. You took us to the scene and we joined you at the dinner for one . Lydi**

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Lydi.

[Chris]

I didn't want to speak of relating, nor comment toward living. The emotional impact of this tied to the image was readily evident. The last line of the first stanza brought me back and back again - confused. Merlot from the line above tightly fit the flow but Bordeaux (to me) wasn't necessary toward understanding or feeling anything and its presence just confused the mind.

I sat here for awhile before writing and it's been awhile since writing this. This one haunts ...me with the real taste of life.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Well, a Bordeaux is a type of wine glass used for wines that need to breathe, such as Merlot and Cabernet...were you confused as to the word itself, or as to the fact that Bordeaux is also a generalized term for a type of wine? I appreciate your careful readings. :)

[Chris]

I know that...but many including most younger ones might not. Not dinging just saying that for me...you spoke deeply and with heart. That one word didn't advance your intent in the least - as I listened anyway... that's all.

[icelandicblue]

There is such loneliness portrayed in this piece. Reliving half an event brings with it a cloud of quietude but the memory remains whole as your hands and mind are lost in thought. This is a beautifully poignant piece of poetry you have created here.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed this one...glad you felt it.

[Frieda P]

Ahh Friday, we must have the same marinara recipe, I know it well...seems to me I recall something similar from your pen a while back or that could have been mine, seems we're on the same wavelength a lot...ha, very cool read my friend. Buon appetit.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Haha I'm sure I've written of lingering memories many times before...haha...and we both need a new marinara recipe! ;)

[Einstein Noodle]

I love it that this person is treating herself (?) to a fine dinner with good memories and me thinks her mind is teasing a call to her past lover...
"my hands remember as I lightly stroke the grain"
naughty girl! :)
E.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm glad you got a positive note from this one! Clever one you are!

[Astro]

Aaah! My heart breaks that you are able to express such lost passion, it truly does. They say that scent is the most potent trigger for memory recognition, that on top of remaining in a once shared space I see the torture upon my screen in a frame by frame version of your words. 'Stroke the grain' and knock on wood there lies hope somewhere, and new scents to discover when dinners for one just don't taste the same anymore. Outstandingly potent read, not for the tenderhearted.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, dear! :)

[Astro]

You are always welcome. :)

[Robbie~xoxo~]

What a vision of grace within the loneliness...
You continue your dining ritual of candlelight, wine, and pasta...
and yet, the memories are "still haunting"..well penned!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Robbie...it's hard to eat alone :(

[Robbie~xoxo~]

You won't be for long....(((hugs)))...

[Souladareatease]

...with or against Dear Friday?
A Quiet piece this is with the aromatic touch of distant memory...some things can never be truly done away with, or truly embraced the way we wish...marks all around hold those grains...and we sift along with them.
Beautiful Write!!!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Memories have a strange way of rearing their heads in the most interesting and unexpected places...you sit down for a quiet dinner and BAM you are hit with something you haven't thought about in weeks, months, or even longer. Thank you so much for the kind review :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Oh, and I tend to go against the grain in most cases, so I'll say "against"...lol

[Souladareatease]

HA!!! I kinda figured ;) hehehe ...odd it is ...mine happen a lot when doing dishes...its always when the mind floats...second sight and instincts work this way as well...neat things human peculiarities

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Neat, painful, beautiful, tragic...I could continue with a growing variety of adjectives to describe "human peculiarities" :)

[Souladareatease]

Hahahahaha I KNOW You could -people watcher...that's something else i'll be doing this week ;)