Lori is not religious
but she prays
as she prepares dinner
for one.
The prayer rises
on the steam
as low fires
soften vegetables.
The rice is not rice
but riced cauliflower
with coconut milk
and curry.
Lori prays
to see her
jumbled memories
through beauty.
How slumber’s
disorientation
is Hermes
in one form or another.
Gabriel to satisfy
her mother
with rosary beads
rolled under fingertips.
Minus a husband
several years now
she still cooks
for two
but saves half
for tomorrow’s
brown bag lunch
taken to work.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 