(Wendy Cabell, November 25, 2023, Leavetaking of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple, and feast day of (above) Our Lady of the Rock, the Cyprus Icon of the Mother of God of Mercy, Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Imma of Würzburg. Image from here.)
Ice Cream
(vs I scream)
being dished out at birthday parties, rare toddlerhood sweet
tickling palms, soothing tummy, as nestle with family by the TV–-
day done, storytime begun
flown to when migraine looms, it works better than any pill.
“I want you to eat this”, says Mom, so simply, small smile.
No judgment. Her love stirred right in. Me at age 11 and
anorexic, that mint chip shake–-it was the only thing
could break through.
As digestion now wanes, I replace it with goat milk–-
piping hot no less–-but it suffices. Mother’s milk
by any other name
being the same.
*From prompt: Think of a food memory you loved or hated as a child, who or what is associated with it, its sensory experience, and how you feel about that food now. Then free write as inspired by Ted Kooser’s “Applesauce”. From Robin Nester (of The Poetry Salon)’s Generative Writing Class, November 25, 2023.
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