In The Kitchen

Sunday Scribbling's prompt this week: in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, on the stove, the pot
of water bubbles; pans are getting hot
and fragrant steam is rising. Where’s the cook?
She’s on the porch; come to the door and look.
The clock says half past five, it’s on the dot

but he’s not there. There’s traffic—quite a lot
he must be late—or maybe he forgot—
she won’t believe that, sits down with a book
in the kitchen.

The towels on the rail are tied in knots
by anxious hands; the bread already got
a little burned; the mugs are on the hook
behind the coffee; in the breakfast nook
a woman’s crying for a man who’s not
in the kitchen.