• The warmth of your kitchen
    cradled us all with
    magnetic forces like the
    rows of garnet jelly jars
    on the window sill
    shot through with sunlight,
    intuitively finding stray
    dust particles.

    Time and time again,
    the pungent aroma of baking
    drew us from far places
    and careworn worlds away
    to linger over long cups
    of strong, bitter coffee.

    You withdrew from us so slowly.
    We hardly noticed until I felt
    a new and lonely chill
    that would not yield to the fire.