Farmhouse Kitchen

Country Life.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Cold flagstone floors

and dusty shelves,

beneath a low, oak beamed,

white-washed ceiling.

A scrubbed pine table

bearing the scars

of many years labour

with Sabatier knives,

meat mallets and cleavers.

Pots, all shapes and sizes,

dangle from a rack above.

The soot black range,

stout and proud,

belches heat and roasts a joint

of beef, bakes a loaf of bread

and warms plates,

ready for a hearty feast.

The smell of baking dough

and searing meat fills the space

with drooling appetites.

Atop the stove boiling vegetables

to accompany the crisping,

oven-cooked parsnips and potatoes,

fill the air with sweet moistened steam.

And in readiness,

we await the call

for father to carve,

knowing that soon

we will be replete.

 

07/06/17

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful poem John. The good days. When the family ate together. Long talks, laughter and family times. The good times. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Coyote. Miss the site but.....

[Coyote Poetry]

We miss you too and you are welcome.

[Hi]

Solid expression feeding the reader an image with as much simple description as metaphor. Thanks.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Matt

[Kelly Scheppers]

I've often heard it said that a kitchen is the heart of a home. You've articulated that well, John, with such clever skill... and awe!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I love cooking and am looking for a house with a 'live-in' kitchen lol. Many thanks Kelly.

[Gee]

Brings flooding back memories of childhood Sunday dinners, the only guaranteed hot meal of the week.
Top notch piece of descriptive writing

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I recall those Sunday lunches but in a council maisonette in east end Glasgow! Many thanks Gee.

[Gee]

My pleasure

[wordman]

it seems those days have passed john,a way of life
that most people today does not share

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah but how nice to go back to such family occasions Ron? Many thanks.

[MsJewel]

Your descriptions are so vivid, but more than that I like the wonderful warm feel of your words. Wonderful writing John. :) Julie

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Julie for your kind review.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"Please sir, can I have some more?" This poem whets the appetite and imagination with its masterful imagery and descriptive prowess. "The soot black range, stout and proud,belches heat and roasts a joint of beef..." Eloquent, love this.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Annette!

[duff]

There is a lot going on in this piece, So many textures and tones. You can smell everything as it's happening. The vivid colors of the vegetables and the steam coming off the stove. Sounds like rustic heaven to me. Beautifully penned John. By far one of my favorites.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much for your kindness duff.

[duff]

You bet! I really enjoy reading your work.

[Island Hippy]

Aloha John, I love this! There's so much beauty in the simple things. A warm sense of family and a way of life that seems so distant from today.
On a different note, this made my mouth water, hearty and full! Izzy

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So glad to have got the juices going Izzy. Many thanks!

[Paul Bell]

You see this in your minds eye. The family together, conversing. Roll on today. Everyone in different rooms, eating, on computers. Talking, what happened to it.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Progress and the internet I guess Paul. In days bygone communication took place over the table, over the garden fence, in the local shops or the pub. Many thanks for reading.