She was meticulous─
all four foot eleven of her
tidy and compact.
In her kitchen, every dish
and utensil stood at attention,
drying towels hung in uniformity.
Looking back, I suspect
I may have upset
her perfectionist apple cart
with my plus-size frame,
chaotic penmanship,
untamed strands that escaped every hair clip;
but she never let on.
Nana arrived every Christmas
with a box of coveted confections;
homemade chocolate fudge
uniquely granular, irresistible,
each bite dissolved into sweet precision
mixed with a touch of balsam fir.
Before we were allowed
to sample the sugary delights,
they were whisked into Mother’s
crystal holiday candy dish,
beside Baby Jesus and Mary.
Elaine Sorrentino, author of Belly Dancing in a Brown Sweatsuit (Kelsay Books, 2025) has been published in Quartet Journal, ONE ART: a journal of poetry, Minerva Rising, The Raven’s Perch, Glass: A Journal of Poetry, Gyroscope Review, Sparks of Calliope, Sheila-Na-Gig, Poetry Porch, Ekphrastic Review, and Haikuniverse.
