The recipe for endurance
calls for one third cup of the past
to rekindle what should be salvaged
smoothly blended with one third of the present
and the finishing touches to pour in
are the final third, the future

the gift of the past could use
a little stirring up
a great portion of this was sweet, worth
digging out from this old kitchen’s shelves
the moldy sadder parts
with their aftertaste
I’ll toss
but the worn pages in the cookbook
remind me of all the old favorites
and my personal notes, smudged with
stains, family idiosyncrasies

the brown sugar has turned hard
and needs to sit with apple
to regain a pliable texture
and everything needs a careful eye
for re-measuring
the cups are now marked in metric

the gift of the present
fresh now, will remain so if I just let it be
without overfussing
yet I'll try to sweep the old bitters away
while keeping enough spices
vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon handy as ever
but the batter seems so lumpy
the flour needs sifting
and should be refined
all purpose needs to turn to
specialty
and gentleness consistent
my arms will need to work hard
to smooth out the hard clumps
and when adding the closest to perfect eggs
that can be found
be sure of no escaped shells
then add ample sprinkles of optimism
to try to feel less beaten

the gift of the future
moves into this kitchen
(badly in need of renovation)
comes with trial and error
a little of this, and less of that

more of an innovative outlook
products changing, choices harder
but with a sweetness after the lessons
of forgotten items
in the blooper batches

baking times varied by newer technology
more purity of input
stricter, for the longevity of the samplers
transfats and over-processed ingredients
to avoid

but the reach of things
promises to be more accessible
knowledge and performance
at higher-speeds on the fancy equipment
instantly-discovered recipes on google
though lacking the personal notes
requisite tender care will be
in which secret old ingredients to keep
and which novice improvements to add

I love to bake for the family
in this kitchen where I first tried
twenty-seven years ago

but now I'll require
more evenness of assistance
to get the mix just right
and provide enough space
accurate degree of heat for the rising
in just the right amount of time

there's a lingering mystery
to whether we'll make it alright
perhaps that's what will keep it fresh

12/01/2004

Author's Note: a very fresh draft, right out of this morning's oven in fact.

Posted on 12/01/2004
Copyright © 2025 Maureen Glaude