Getting used to gone

I held a
hand over
her heart
until her
life slipped
through my fingers.
I let the hand stay
because it was
the only thing
that could.

Death is inevitable
but it is so hard,
he says.
True on both accounts
but what
makes me truly sad
is that you
can get used
to anything,
even death.

Disaster, averted

It should have been
a recipe
for disaster
but it turned
out not to be.

It began with
a notion
that the fridge
and pantry
could use a bit of
breathing room.

First the chicken
breaded and shallow fried.
Then the pancetta.
Oh, the pancetta
picking up the
pieces of fried flour
used to coat bits
of chicken
Pull that pig out
and coat the pan
with mini
pieces of
sun dried tomatoes
Add in at least
five cloves of garlic
the elephant kind
More if you have it
White wine
if you have some
Add in some
chicken stock
why not, you think.

This is all
coming together
quite nicely.

Why not some
dairy
ricotta and skim milk
whisked into a slurry

In comes
some basil
red pepper flakes

Throw a pot of water
to boil and
make some pasta
not a lot
just enough
to satisfy.

Put the pasta
in the sauce
and stand back
to admire.

Did you remember
to heat that oven
to 350?
I hope so.

In goes the
iron skillet
with a meal of
your making.

Just wait
10 minutes.