One old and one new
Dinner Party
The coffee tastes slightly
of the soap with which
the carafe was washed
but is delicious
served as it is
among these friends.
Suppression
My beard abrades the inner lining of
my mask. The frayed filaments
tickle my chin and irritate my nostrils,
encouraging a sneeze which,
in less troubled and troubling times,
would elicit blessings instead
of the disgusted curses which now
would come as particulates and panic
spread throughout this supermarket.
I resist. The sneeze subsides
and I'm allowed to keep my slow
purview of what's on offer
this otherwise lovely late September day.
The coffee tastes slightly
of the soap with which
the carafe was washed
but is delicious
served as it is
among these friends.
Suppression
My beard abrades the inner lining of
my mask. The frayed filaments
tickle my chin and irritate my nostrils,
encouraging a sneeze which,
in less troubled and troubling times,
would elicit blessings instead
of the disgusted curses which now
would come as particulates and panic
spread throughout this supermarket.
I resist. The sneeze subsides
and I'm allowed to keep my slow
purview of what's on offer
this otherwise lovely late September day.
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Author's Note
The first was written in the mid eighties and I was able to remember recently.
The second is obviously from the current Era of Covid 19
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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These are both quite lovely. But I particularly like the first one. It's like visiting my own house.
Thank you, Stephen.
These are perfect.
Thank you, Dianne.
Yes, sneezing makes one feel guilty. Love the comforting lines of the first poem.
Would this be God's way of teaching us to hold our sneezes in? I hate coffee with even a hint of soapy taste, but I love the company. Good set, Bubba!
Thank you. Erika.
Thank you. Matt.
Thank you, Matt.
A dyptich for the Plague despite the time between writings. Coffee tasting slightly of soap, a foretaste of a tainted world.
Thank you, David.
We straddle the times with remembrance.
****
One Old: it's a close call, but I like this one best. I like the unanswered questions, and all the ways they could be answered.
One New: The scene is so familiar and i love the way you captured it. "Particulates and panic" - love this.
I like them both. One Old is just perfect. One New - exactly how we live these days with our nerve-wracking sneezes. *
Thank you, James.
Thank you, Foster.
Thank you, Beate.
Good pair. *
* well done, gary
Thank you, Sam.
Thank you, Gary.
*, Damn, Gary. This is good stuff. Thanks for posting it.
Thank you, David.