Ode to a Table

 

By Annabelle Ginter

 

 

Your long stems bearing the

Weight of books, candles,

Conversation, expectation,

Hard work and the occasional

Self-care cheesecake, the hard wood

Blooms into the space

With wisdoms of

Silent tears shared.

How many have buzzed around

You, looking for a place to

Rest their wings, to eat a

Chicken teriyaki on Italian

Seasoned bread with a splash of

Hot sauce, or dirty stories

Swapped between giggles and

Eruptions of surprise?

Do you tire of your petal

Pieces being sat on by a

Size 2, 3, 16, or 24?

Do you discriminate, do you feel

Hate, do you understand

What’s going on in our country?

The stain from 256 persons says otherwise

When the lights go out, you

Stay bloomed, waiting for breakfast to

Fall on your sweet

Hardwood flower leaves.