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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Cornelius Eady: "A Small Moment"














I walk into the bakery next door
To my apartment. They are about
To pull some sort of toast with cheese
From the oven. When I ask:
What's that smell? I am being
A poet, I am asking
What everyone else in the shop
Wanted to ask, but somehow couldn't;
I am speaking on behalf of two other
Customers who wanted to buy the
Name of it. I ask the woman
Behind the counter for a percentage
Of her sale. Am I flirting?
Am I happy because the days
Are longer? Here's what
She does: She takes her time
Choosing the slices. "I am picking
Out the good ones," she tells me. It's
April 14th. Spring, with five to ten
Degrees to go. Some days, I feel my duty;
Some days, I love my work.



"A Small Moment" by Cornelius Eady, from Hardheaded Weather: New and Selected Poems (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2008).

Art credit: "Fresh Daily Bread Vintage Metal Art Retro Bakery Tin Sign," image by unknown photographer.


1 comment :

  1. I come to the bakery with him
    His work is never done
    To the feel the day with him
    The sights and scents
    The cheese and dough
    Within my mouth
    His work is never done.

    ReplyDelete

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