koulouria

[constantine]

vaguely i remember this
though it is true nonetheless
my mom and her sisters
their mother, their daughters
a family of women around the table
they would mix the dough
hands, spanning the generations
knowledge passed,
who knows how long or how far
or where it all began?
they would roll the dough in strips
and weave them in twists
and circled braids, the old
would teach the young,
my head barely above the table
my tiny hands eager and excited
they gave me dough to roll
which i ate with impatient greed
and we laughed, oh god how we laughed!
graciously they allowed me to share
in the holy, timeless mysteries
of the hearth and the heart
these things that matter,
that define our humanity -
who and what we are,
where we've come from -
the sacred road and way

i look at my hands, my hands
i shake my head and wonder
these hands, aged, leathery
my head covered in gray -
face furrowed, a field plowed
with the worry of tomorrow's assault
with the paltry concerns of tedious necessity
and all the wonders and marvels of modernity
information at my fingertips -
her voice, as if she were next to me,
are but the crumbs of better days

[Doreen Peri]

beautiful!

my new favorite poem of yours

i like it when you dig deep, tell stories...

you are a master storyteller...

this poem represents your best talents as a poet

really fine writing

(i donno what that title means tho... need to look it up..)

[constantine]

thanks, doreen. i intended to write this years ago; recently my sister asked if i ever completed it - i had forgotten. koulouria are those greek cookies that they twist into different shapes.

[goldenmyst]

Constantine, I love Greek cooking and remembrances of old ways. This poem is a beautiful reminiscence.

John

[Perdida]

mmmm greek biscuits? havent had those for a while. Constantine, omg were my first thoughts when i read this, this really touched me, the generations of the women in your family all gathered round working, laughing together and it took me back to when i was a little girl, and you hungrily eating the dough, made me smile big. Such a good feeling poem and i have to agree with Doreen. Fine writing indeed Sir.

Thank you.

p

[Arcadia]

sweet writing, constantine!! (I´ve ate greek cookies at greek restaurants and at colectividades fest here, I´ll ask next time if they were koulouria or what! ) gracias!!!!

[SmileGRL]

warm & inviting

[constantine]

thank you for your kind comments.