Recipe for the Broken
by Robert Peake
Curl them out of their skins, lop
potatoes and parsnips into smoking
broth, they rise and plunge
the turgid surface bursting gas.
Crone broth, swamp broth, whatever
doesn't kill you—make them well,
in drawing breath within the steam
give tribute to apocryphal mercies—
Cordelia changing Lear's bandages,
centurions changing their minds,
and the obscurity of Irish mothers
swirling through vapors in silence.
Drink of this transfused kindness,
and eat of this brine called hope.
potatoes and parsnips into smoking
broth, they rise and plunge
the turgid surface bursting gas.
Crone broth, swamp broth, whatever
doesn't kill you—make them well,
in drawing breath within the steam
give tribute to apocryphal mercies—
Cordelia changing Lear's bandages,
centurions changing their minds,
and the obscurity of Irish mothers
swirling through vapors in silence.
Drink of this transfused kindness,
and eat of this brine called hope.
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Author's Note
This poem first appeared in “Walt’s Corner” of The Long Islander, founded by Walt Whitman in 1838.
It is also available as a limited-edition, hand-numbered broadside print, signed by the author:
Other stories by Robert Peake
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"give tribute to apocryphal mercies—
Cordelia changing Lear's bandages,
centurions changing their minds,
and the obscurity of Irish mothers
swirling through vapors in silence"
Very nice!
Thanks, Bill!
Such an interesting piece. Really like the phrasings throughout. The music is strong. Great work, Robert.
Thanks, Sam. Most kind.