No Small Thing

The smell of baking bread, smooth floured hands,

butter waiting to be spread with blackberry jam,

and I realise, this is no small thing.

These days spent confined,

I am drawn to life’s ordinary details,

the largeness of all we can do

alongside what we cannot.

The list of allowances far outweighs my complaints,

I am fortunate to have flour and yeast, a source of heat,

not to mention soft butter, the tartness of blackberries

harvested on a cold back road.

A kitchen, a home, two working

hands to stir and knead,

s clear enough head to gather it all.

Even the big toothy knife feels miraculous

as it grabs hold and cracks the crust.

© Ellen Rowland - No Small Thing (Fernwood Press)

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