(forgotten)

Cleaning out
the cupboards
I find the life
I had forgotten,
the one where
I baked pies
and corn sticks
in the glass dish
like my mother’s,
which took me years
to find, located
at last in an
antique store.
There is the
carnival glas
deviled egg plate
I have not used
in more than
a year.
Since I gave up
entertaining,
because everyone
else alread had.
It has not
worked for me,
this life of
indifference,
refusing
to participate.
What can I say,
perhaps I should
cook for the homeless
the infirm,
people who would
be justified
in their lack
of reciprocity –
people who could
share my joy
in the carnival
glass, being
grateful to eat
at all.

9/5/99