at the farm store big leaf spinach just-picked
tomatoes and garlic
at the market ricotta and noodles made of split peas
busies herself with pots and pans
chopping and simmering
enough to feed a small army
drives to the underpass
where the unhoused curl in sleeping bags
surrounded by their lives stuffed in plastic
she invites all to dinner
at home she unfolds the damask tablecloth
unused in decades
the cloth napkins
candles pulled from the bottom drawer
pushed into holders excavated from the top shelf
places wineglasses at each setting
uncorks to breathe
when all are seated sending glances uneasy around
she holds up her glass
here’s to you
what I can do
one meal
a warm home
a nicely laid table
when the last morsel scarfed up
her guests rise collect plates
push her out tell her to rest
while they scrub and scour
until the kitchen is cleaner than ever
at the door they quickly hug
disappear through the streets
hugging everything they own
in their arms.
Eve Rifkah was co-founder of Poetry Oasis, Inc., Founder, and editor DINER, a literary magazine. She is the 2021 recipient of the Stanley Kunitz medal. She lives in Worcester, MA. The play, Outcasts the Lepers of Penikese Island, was based on her first book. She has 6 books, Webpage: eve-rifkah.com
