06/13/2019
It’s twelve o’one and I just ate breakfast
but I started cooking three days ago.
Miso soup is the study of how positives attract:
I sat and peeled, sliced, and rinsed the ginger
stretched the shiitake out to dry across some racks
submerged the spicy roots in a bath of sugar and vinegar
I soaked the seaweed as the dashi simmered gently on the stove
then I sat and listened to the slightest hiss of gas glowing
like the clear azurite sky outside
shimmering through the scented steam
of flash seared porcini sizzling in a cast iron skillet,
an old Griswold number twelve cracked around its rim.
And then I waited—
I waited until the house ruptured and the ocean poured in
I waited until my nostrils smiled to themselves
I waited until something spoke to me
and said, your wait is done.
But I was glad to wait,
and I will gladly wait some more
because everything worthwhile in this world
asks us only of our time, and time, dear friends,
is something I have far too much of these days.
Good food is but one of many ways
this one of many living worlds tells us,
“Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”🐣🐖🐄🐫🐗 🐃🦛🐏Because she cares for us dearly. 🦔🐿️🐻🦃🐧🐦🕊️🐓🦘🐼“Eat not for body,” she begs,
outstretched hands overwelling
with loving concern like seed for the birds
or bread broken between the newest of friends,🐥🐍🐬🦆 “but do drink deep, feast to your heart’s content." 🐢🐳🦋🐙For though cooking might be a simple act,
it is also a sacred task—to nourish
is an art form born of love and comfort
that brings spiritual sustenance to your soul.🦑🌾🥑🍓🌶️ 🍄———————————————————————————————————Myriad beings
live, exist
give birth
and perish
because we aren’t here
just to watch them go:
We are here
to tend their growth.
So maintain a garden.
Observe the seasons.
Respect the price of living:
You are let continue
however long “long” lasts
because others are early ended.
Edit: Sustainably sourced plant and animal emojis for formatting purposes. (No animal emoji was harmed in the making of this...whatever it is.) @ Portland, Oregon