Love Every Third Stir

She put in a handful of goose-grease and memory
dropped in a shred of the black-and-white fur
from the old panda counterpane you used to sleep under
and thought love of you every third stir,
love of you every third stir.

She simmered it slow on the stove in a copper pot
added some hope and a smidgen of myrrh
an afternoon sunbeam, a late-evening dinner-bell
and thought love of you every third stir,
love of you every third stir.

She stirred it with silver, a spoon with your name on it
steam in her eyes turning years to a blur
packed it in jars from the big discount shopping mall
and thought love of you every third stir,
love of you every third stir.

This poem was inspired by the short story "Love Every Third Stir", by Zenna Henderson. You can find it in the anthology Holding Wonder.

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