Lost Appetite

Life witout food? Life without you?

Lost Appetite

 

 

Pans sit upon the burner,

awaiting a flame that will never come

Scraps of food linger about the counter

like so many lost moments and tear stained menus

Dishes create a new mountain

in the scarred and scratched stainless steel sink

(Leftovers of a time I wanted to eat)

 

Yellow scrubbers float in stagnate water

Soap scum film rings shimmer in the sunlight

cast through the streaked kitchen window

Cabinet doors rest open

on squeaky hinges no one can hear

(Revealing the emptiness now felt in my heart)

 

In patterns of stale Saltines and moldy breakfast bars

coffee, once hot, now cooled and solid sleeps behind hard water stains

cantaloupe rinds, bell pepper caps, ketchup chips and buttered bread

form a mosaic of a kitchen once alive, now found a relic

of avocado appliances and rusted handles

(Lost in time as are my eyes)

 

Kikkoman and red wine evaporate

The Bakelite General Electric clock on the wall longs for batteries,

double “A” now hiding in the corner

afraid of what the time may reveal,

only wanting it to stop…completely

As I come to the conclusion

I shall never hear from you again

(And I have lost my appetite)

 

For life

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Astro]

A very powerful way to describe that situation of being left alone Jack. Something easily understood though through your mundane kitchen descriptions, that show a lack of interest but a full pot of memories. Well done, depressing but completely relatable so well done indeed.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend. The maid was off that week.

[Astro]

Lol, well you know what they say, "When the maids away, the dishes will lay."

[KAOlmsted]

You're out of paper towels. Just saying. Is that a French press?? I've been meaning to get one of those for The Brit. Me? I don't drink coffee. I have that same sauce pan, by the way. Perhaps if you threw some suds on your metaphorical kitchen (and...you know...the real one *laugh*) you might not feel so...what...icky? My entire world comes to a screeching halt when my dishes aren't done. Probably not the point of the piece but that visual was visceral ;-)

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Kimmer. Just a poem. my ktchen never looks like this, well, it usually doesn't. :)

[KAOlmsted]

My pleasure. Mine, neither ;-)

[TL Boehm]

you know. this poem is another one of those "here you went making something so normal so impressive" in a poem. A sink full of dirty dishes and spoiled food as a metaphor for the loss of love but you hit on something else whether on purpose or just because - it is this way often when someone is depressed when love is lost or that person is lost - life becomes shambles. I think that really brought the poem home to me that you approached it this way.

[MsJewel]

To lose your appetite for life - I can't think of anything sadder. You have penned the loneliness one feels after losing someone they love so well my friend. I know this feeling, but it does pass - and on the bright side - why dirty the kitchen for one anyway...almost everyone delivers!

:) Julie

[Jack...]

Almost everyone delivers is correct, just maybe not the one you want to show up at your front door. Thanks so very much Julie, because of you I smile. (I may even clean up the kitchen).

[redflutterby]

Well this one is fitting for my current state of mind. Very sad and resigned write here Jack. But as long as you have a kitchen there's always the possibility of new recipes to be tried. Sometimes you need a change of menu.

[Jack...]

I was going to try a new one but I can't find the spam...sheesh. Thanks so much my non-smiling but should be smiling friend.

[Rita L. Sev]

Losing one's appetite for life... such a sad and apt analogy, when loneliness takes over... I like the form of this piece, Jack, and the details you highlighted. You paint the picture, and the heartache, with your words...

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Rita. One of these days I'm going to have to clean that mess up.

[OTownPete]

Yes, apt descriptions of the feeling of emptiness once a partner has fled.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Pete.

[icelandicblue]

This is one depressing poem. I say take out and a good book- oh and get some to clean that kitchen or spray it with Febreeze like on TV. Don't mind me I'm in a mood LOL. It's a good poem but so damn sad.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Anne. Febreeze, why didn't I think of that?

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A poignant and relegated need inherent in your word's, well done, good read.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Thomas

[Dye]

How incredibly sad. You painted an amazing (yet filthy..LOL) image to bring home your point.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Dye. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home...I suppose this is what it looks like when it is broken.