Recipe for Peace
Devreaux Baker
Originally published in the January 2013 issue of Empirical
Bare your feet, roll up your sleeves
oil the immigrant’s bowl
open the doors and windows of your house
invite in the neighbors, invite in strangers off the street
roll out the dough, add the spices for a good life
cardamom and soul, cumin and tears
stir in sesame and sorrow, a dash of salt
pink as new hope
rub marjoram and thyme, lemon grass and holy basil
on your fingers and pat the dough
bless the table, bless the bread
bless your hands and feet
bless the neighbors and strangers
off the street
bake the bread for a century or more
on a moderate heat
under the olive trees in your back yard
or on the sun filled stones of Syria
in the white rocks of Beirut
or behind the walls of Jerusalem
in the mountains of Afghanistan
and in the sky scrapers of New York
feast with all the migrant tongues
until your mouth understands
the taste of many different homes
and your belly is full so you fall asleep
cradled in the skirts of the world
curled in the lap of peace.
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