Fragrance

Working the dough in a bowl
seems more poetic
than having a machine
do the kneading   Now

a mechanical whir
replaces whacking it   & watching it rise   
beats returning it to the hot oven   &
pulling it out at just the right time

I tinker with recipes & assess
consistency   What of eucharist is there
in each loaf?   The full fragrance
welcomes my wife home from the city

Walking a dusty way   is worth
the effort   even if we drive to the
trailhead   What of pilgrimage is there
in each hike?  Our walk together is

communion   It’s not the miracle
we witness   that convinces us
but what we recognize
in the breaking of bread