CORNISH HENS, WILD RICE, COFFEE AND OJ

CORNISH HENS, WILD RICE, COFFEE AND OJ

there is no going back, i have learned this over time...
oh we all try;
we wander the hallowed halls of memory,
drawing forth to share those pristine moments,
the ones when everything was so good...
the completely perfect instants of our life,
we think worth sharing...

house sitting for a college friend,
a nice lady from my mother’s generation,
who is getting married for the second time,
and has gone on her honeymoon...
her son, craig, shows up unexpected,
with a tall skinny friend in tow,
a young man named chuck. with beautiful long near black hair,
eyelashes any girl would die for and
a quirky smile with an odd sense of humor,
well suited to me,
craig, knew nothing of his mother’s plans,
he just wanted to share a home cooked meal with his friend,
an easy chore, for a ranch raised girl like me...
cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice
and a fresh fruit salad...
the friend and i fell in lust, got married 3 day later,
on his birthday...
“i’ll never forget our anniversary, “ said, with that quirky smile
and a touch of rich gentle laughter...
"and, we will name our daughter, desiree."
and,we did, name our daughter, desiree...
and, we never did forget, i sometimes lost track of the number of years,
but we never forgot the day,
and we shared a good life even unto his death,
25 years and 10 month later to the day...
born on the 8th of July, married on the 8th of July died on the 8th of april

and our wonderful lust grew into love
out of which we created our daughter, desiree,
(the desired one)
another fine memory, still being created...
and,
we walk the memory path together sometimes...
her favorite memory,
long talks in the morning with her father...
she would take him orange juice and a cup of coffee, black and rich
and while i did my late morning chores
they would discuss everything she wondered about,
no subject too deep or too private
and their laughter often filled our home with wonder and joy
oh how we want to capture the moments
and keep them alive forever
but we have learned, there is no going back...
you can wander the hallowed hallways and cherish what once was...
but there is no going back

oh yes, i can still make that wonderful meal
of cornish hens, wild rice and fruit salad
and she can carry a glass of orange juice and a cup of strong black coffee
into my bedroom to share with me early in the morning,
and, we do talk about all manner of things,
and it is good, but,
you can only take the memories
and use them, both the good and the bad,
to build the new pathways of your life
for no matter how you long for those pristine precious moments
to be reality once again
there really is no going back...

  

Reviews

[....................]

true, we can never go back...but we do spend an awful lot of time there...i really enjoyed your piece this morning, Jeannemarie and agree: we can use those hallway memories to build new ones with those who remain in the here and now...well-done, my friend

[jeannemarie coulter]

exactly my feeling...thank you

[....................]

you are kindly welcome :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Poet.
"and it is good, but,
you can only take the memories
and use them, both the good and the bad,
to build the new pathways of your life"
The above lines are true logic for living. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[dan]

I beg to differ, jeannemarie. There IS going back...every time you think of your hubby, the lust and love, the Cornish game hens with wild rice stuffing (Mmmmm.....) ALL of that IS going back; maybe it's not real, but it's sort of like reading a book, how the words can transport you on a trip around the world and back. Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece with us! take care...dan

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you dan...i drew my true love into my life with that meal...and the love is forever...perhaps love, real love is always forever...

[dan]

And also, without your knowing it, you brought back memories for ME too. I rose from cook to executive chef of a hotel in a 19 year cooking career, but the first restaurant I worked in had boneless Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice! I learned how to debone the hens, make the wild rice stuffing...shiny happy memories all. Thanks again! take care...dan

[jeannemarie coulter]

and i bet your hens are tastier than mine...last time i fixed them i glazed them with my homemade amaretto...they were heavenly good but not really first chef quality...

[dan]

Oh, but I was just a cook-in-training then, I'm very sure yours are outstanding. take care...dan

[Cherry Pepperweb]

Memories keep us grounded and alive. A beautiful and touching poem.

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you for reading and responding...18 years have passed and sometimes the missing still hurts...

[Cherry Pepperweb]

It sometimes always will... :(
You're welcome.

[JayceeC]

Jc it's a gift to share the memories. Not only do they keep him alive, but it's time the two of you are united through them. No you can't go back, but maybe talking time to remember helps you go forward. Knowing you looked and were loved unconditionally can be a great source of strength.

[jeannemarie coulter]

his love and laughter were unconditional and made life so much fun...

[daninstockholm]

This is a beautiful set of memories and a lovely tribute to a lost love.

[jeannemarie coulter]

as years pass the memories are still rich and the missing deeper

[Perkele.7885]

I liked this remembrance of yours particularly well. I am noticeably wondering
how has he dealt with the aids infection that your body has come to grips with.

[jeannemarie coulter]

my husband died from colon cancer...he was HIV- as is our daughter...i was infected by blood product when desiree was born...chuck was very supportive when i was diagnosed, but cancer took him from us within 3 years of my diagnoses the dr said he ate too much red meat and drank too much coffee (over 2 qt a day)

[Emily]

Very good poem!
I really liked it!
Keep on writing!

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you for the kind words

[wordman]

you can go back home,but you can never go back in time,only through the portals of your mind
a beautiful tribute,sorry for your loss,and your daughters loss. the memories will always be there for you !

[jeannemarie coulter]

my thanks and blessings for the moments shared

[wordman]

thank you.and you`re welcome