The Simple Turns Sublime
With the cold, comes warmth
What I savor the most
about those last couple of weeks
is how the simple
turns sublime.
.
Time to throw the ball with the dogs
and savor the yard that was home
to bee stings, scraped knees,
and water gun fights in equal parts.
.
Time to sit back and read
beside the fireplace many a cat would lay
while sipping champagne poured from a neck
freshly sabered.
.
That tradition was short lived.
A combination of the risk of the bottle exploding,
broken glass scattered across the ground
(if not in your bubbly),
and sliced fingers on a razor-sharp neck
put that lunacy to bed.
.
Still, I proved I could do it
and had many attempts that didn’t end in such a state.
That “tradition” may have only survived a single season.
But others are going strong:
.
My dad and I make sausage soufflé Christmas morning.
The pets each get a stocking along with the sons.
There’s always plenty of sushi
and beneath each plate *gasp*
another lottery ticket?!
.
There’s something sublime about a few days
where the family converges from across the country
to share the same ciabatta loaves from South Street Under
and rhubarb pie from Mom’s Apple Pie Company.
.
Presents don’t mean as much anymore.
To be fair, I’m asking for jeans and a rice cooker this year.
Nowadays, it’s the quiet and good food
that I look forward to.
About the Creator
Stephen A. Roddewig
Author of A Bloody Business and the Dick Winchester series. Proud member of the Horror Writers Association 🐦⬛
Also a reprint mercenary. And humorist. And road warrior. And Felix Salten devotee.
And a narcissist:
Keep reading
More stories from Stephen A. Roddewig and writers in Poets and other communities.
There's A Hole in My Bucket
It’s a well-known fact that Liza Dufresne was always the brains in the family. She was the one who always came up with the brilliant schemes the Dufresne kids carried out when they were younger. Like when they tricked Mrs. Claybourn into paying for a trip to Disney World. Liza convinced her that their parents had been kidnapped and were being held for ransom for the total price of three tickets. In reality, they were away on a weekend getaway for their anniversary. When they returned, Liza told the Claybourns that they did not like to talk about the ordeal. Their parents never found out how they got the money. Mrs. Claybourn never found out that the Dufresne parents were never really in any danger.
By David E. Perry7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (8)
Well-wrought! Time is not money, despite what the business moguls believe. When those who we love are no longer with us, there is no amount of money that will give us more time with them, nor should we want there to be.
Ah the wasted bottles of champagne when sabered incorrectly. I had to read this line twice: ‘Presents don’t mean as much anymore.’ I thought it read ‘Parents’. Whew was relieved when I read it correctly.
Dude, those bottles 🤣 This was my favorite bit: "Still, I proved I could do it and had many attempts that didn’t end in such a state. That “tradition” may have only survived a single season. But others are going strong:" What great snapshot of family. I feel everyone can put themselves in this poem and feel a part of it, see it vividly, and just never want to leave. That's quite a feat, sir. Side note. What on earth are the odds that I write a story with a wolf and a lottery when you, too, write two poems, one that's about a wolf and this one, that has a lottery mentioned? Seriously?
I've never heard of sausage souffle before. I've only heard of souffle and always thought they’re always made sweet. I've never even had one but my assumption was wrong. This has me intrigued. It can be savoury too! Loved your poem!
Enjoyed your warm tone and reminiscing here! 😊
not a poet, eh? got my eye on you, Roddewig! This was a whole lot of simple and sublime joy wrapped into a gift of a poem, bravo!
Excellent poem, whatever brings you Christmas cheer is up to you, and this poem teaches us to find joy in the simple things. 💚❤️
You won’t go wrong with a rice cooker. This is a beautiful homage to the simple things in life that truly make us happy.