Poem

The center where I mentor is encouraging scholars to enter their "Literary Love Poetry" Contest. They asked for volunteers to judge, so I did. They also asked mentors to write poems to lead by example.

So here's mine. The iambic pentameter isn't, really. I spent an hour on it after a lousy day and before getting on the Metro to tutor in math.

Cooking

To sit surrounded by friends at table
Eating food I prepared, sipping wine,
Sharing laughter, lets me know all is fine
In my world. Someone starts an old fable
And another questions why we label
Our stories. Perhaps we all simply pine
For the ability to draw a line,
Separate fiction from fact where we're able.

In the kitchen, I pour water for tea,
Lay out plates of cheese, cut slices of cake,
Prepare for the little ways a meal ends.
The conversation ebbs and flows and we
Smile, listen quietly to give and take,
Happily bask in the warmth of friends.