The Woman Who Loved

She always kept an open door
No locks could keep out
Any who may
Wish to be fed.

For not only did you
feed
My mother, my father -
your favourite son
You also kept that
Table laid
Ready to wear.

And I remember
Crying over the carcass
You kept in that
deep overflowing pan
I couldn't reach to look
And it was only when I
Climbed the cupboard
that I threw a look.

And then when I cried
My mother she hit
A smack across my
sullen face
How dare I despair over
a simple chicken soup
So prepared to nurture
my very self.

I never ate meat
after that night
And my reflection
has never ever took
that same look as
I did that night in
my grandmothers sheer
delight
For of that night
she never knew.

© Sia Jane