Saturday, August 15, 2009

Dinner Party for Sunday Scribblings

The table is set
with Mom’s
dinnerware

you remember
the ones with
the gray roses

tipped with a blush
of pink to match
the tablecloth

slowly you begin
to materialize
first Dad

sniffing the air
to make sure
we’re not having

any spicy foods
Grampy marches in
ordering everyone

around then Nonie
(you are still so beautiful)
sits down gracefully

you hand me a plate
piled high
with donuts

and I can smell
the nutmeg
Memere and Pepere

enter quietly
like clouds and sunshine
smile, Memere!

Uncle Bob, distinguished
and Uncle George
rumpled,

drink in hand
take their places
we eat what we always

ate: fluffy mashed potatoes,
fresh string beans,
and a beef roast

we talk and laugh
and reminisce
just after the lemon

meringue pie
you start to dissipate
like the steam

rising from the coffee
cups I clean up,
do the dishes

and later nibble
on one of those
plain donuts.

22 comments:

anthonynorth said...

A marvellous feast of the culinary and togetherness.
Enjoyed that.

George S Batty said...

This poem is awesome...beautiful...heart warming... and more that I cannot verbalize at this moment. a remembrance of loved ones voiced in a warm loving way. "dissipate like steam from a warm cup of coffee" is a line that will always make me remember my family when I drink my morning coffee. thank you

gautami tripathy said...

I like all that food and also the people you invited. Interesting set!

feasting in that crescent-shaped cove

Anonymous said...

Wonderfully written, and a heart-touching assembly of family members, each a character in their own right. I can see the good memories that went into this, and it makes me long for one more Sunday dinner at home... yes, with mashed potatoes, and string beans and pot roast and pie. Perfect!

b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...

I could see the family gathered in the room. Lovely.

b
http://torristravels.blogspot.com/2009/08/dream-dinnersunday-scribblings.html

S. and her comrade said...

Nice structure, i liked the three word paragraphs :) beautiful poem! brought me back to one of those sundays when i was having a meal with my family.

Larry McCay said...

I loved this!

I had trouble picking actual people for mine - they all competed for the seat at the table in my mind - so I took some artistic liberties.

thanks for sharing.

-SoC

~Kathryn~ said...

perfect ... family that you love around a table with all the memories that that brings

Lucy said...

absolutely heartwarming and beautiful!

Stan Ski said...

Gathering at the table often reminds us of absent friends.

ChefDruck said...

I love the image of "you start to dissipate like the steam of the coffee cup..." beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Was I actually there at this family get together???
Wow! You put me in place as if I was handing over the beef to you..:)
Beautiful feeling..Amazing flow of verses and I loved the random use of scribblings..Awesome!
Felt like being with my family again and finally nibbling on that plain doughnut? Nice one...
Keep writing so well..Love to read your scribblings...

floreta said...

now i want some donuts!

always enjoy your poetry style

gma said...

Lovely thoughts of family dinners past.

Anonymous said...

I loved the image of your guests starting to "dissipate like the steam rising from the coffee cups [you're] cleaning up." The savory flavors of this feast, though, will linger; a pleasant memory.

Tammy Brierly said...

I almost went there but now I'm glad I didn't. Your sentimental imagery touched all my senses through the heart.

Americanising Desi said...

i love your take on this unique prompt this week! truly puts a smile on my face!

Pop Comes the Baby

linda may said...

Lovely, a family gathering to share, love and food.

Anonymous said...

Beautifully written! What an interesting take on this week's prompt. I felt like I was right there in the middle of it.

Anonymous said...

Good one Linda, got to meet your family and almost tasted that doughnut. I love plain doughnuts.

Sarah Crowther said...

I can only hope that my children reminisce about family meals in the same way that you and I do.

I wrote a Haiku this time, as you have seen, but there is definitely a longer poem lurking in me somewhere about the table I have inherited. It was my Grandfathers, Dads and now mine.

Bobbie Sandlin said...

Sounds so yummy! Great writing!

Linda's Poems