that stops me in my tracks –
picking out the teatime plate which
-since I’m one of those who motivate themselves
by the ‘reward’ system –
twenty minutes of gardening
have made all the sweeter:
a slice of soda bread, warm
from baking just two hours ago;
spread with crumbly-textured home-made cream cheese
(got it right this time, as much by accident) ,
and spread on this, red strawberry jam;
a slight mound here and there
implying a whole fruit promising itself
in this superior ‘preserve’..
the sunlight shining on its gleaming surface
it’s like those foodie photographs
(and yes, I know, they have to use
shaving foam because of those hot studio lights…):
those photographs in the lifestyle section
which we linger over, but have
already decided long ago,
yes, that’s for me; or, that’ll never be for me…
today, it seems, its perfection
is, for me: for this, heaven and earth were made;
if the gods are to be sought,
they are only to be sought
in the present moment.
Today, they do not fail. Nor I. Nor I.