Never Enough
no task too insignificant
she mastered the art of roasting exotic seeds
cumin, cardamom, coriander and fennel
infusing her sauces with authenticity
far beyond the buttermilk cast of her skin
made her family’s clothes
right down to spinning the fibres of insects
plants, warm blooded mammals
knitting the resultant two ply
knobby and twisted in sunset colours
she mounted the corporate ladder
shattering the glass roof
acquired six figures while preserving
her own anorexic ideal
gave birth to a young Einstein
a natural event followed by
organic breast-feeding
presented her country club master
with perfect progeny
it wasn’t enough
she won prizes
earned A plusses
mentored and tutored and studied and never
stopped baking the golden crusted loaves
yeast smell a wholesome incense
throughout the home
hanging the laundry in the sun
for the scent
read all the books
spoke all the arguments
till he brushed away
like spiderwebs
all she brought to him in cupped hands
It’s lovely, good work. But –
he looked in her pupils like down a well
to her soul’s source
- you need none of it
You are enough
susan lynn reynolds
This poem was the winner of Hot Sauced Words themed challenge – July 2008
To read other poems by Sue, click on these links: