National Poetry Month: Reading Itself Might Be a Ritual

Reading Itself Might Be a Ritual

Tall-backed chair by the fire
in the sun-room, plants lining the sunny side
two dogs asleep
warming feet,
tea to my right--
unless it is a very small glass
of deep red wine--
and bowl of
nuts or
crackers
or piece of dark chocolate
raisins and figs
apple slices,
not all and not too much.

Or the rocker in the living room
feet up on the stool covered with a
unicorn needlepointed by
my mother while my father
was in World War
Two--it still serves well these
many wars later--tea still
to my right--unless it is the wine--
with bowl of nuts,
or fruit, or crackers,
or that piece of dark chocolate,
unless I am lucky and have a
marzipan confection.

~ Alice Sather for Shelf Awareness newsletter