The Sacrament of Soup

Poem written by Ellen Steinbaum, used with permission from the author

This is what you do
when the call comes:
take the largest pot from the shelf
pour in water
chop and scrape
chop and scrape
carrots turnips
anything you have
any amount
add without measuring
lentils split peas marrow bone
anything you have
any amount.

Set it over fire.

This is what you do:
take the largest pot from the shelf
let your hands begin the work
let the fire begin the work
watch the incantation
of bubbles rising
again and again
fire
water
scrape
chop
anything you have
again and again.

This is all you can do.