Instead of
clever glass jars
with cork stoppers
filled with
delicate leaves
and pungent powders.   

Hand-labeled
Arranged in alphabetical order:

Allspice,
Basil, Bay Leaves
Carraway, Cayenne, Cinnamon  

Our spice rack
housed
plastic orange cylinders
with childproof lids
filled with
two-toned capsules
and pastel tablets  

Covered in warnings
Arranged in alphabetical order:  

Ativan,
Clozapine, Codeine,
Desyrel, Dexadrine, Dilaudid,  

Perhaps,
This is why
My mother
Could not cook.