Grandma’s Kitchen
had silver grapefruit
spoons, crystal bowls.
Thin wedges of fruit
to retrieve memories
from interlocking pink
membranes, & to hold
the tart intricate sugared
wheel together. Formica
& the sterling silverware
reflecting morning light
that leaked through bright
white & yellow lacework.
Everything gleamed with
the shine of those light
green sticky vinyl chairs.
Grandma is this silver
grapefruit spoon, luster
serrated teeth, scoldings
delicate yet unbending.
It’s laughable now how
morning light through
these blinds & all these
quick to arrive tears of
age, implode into joy.
age, implode into joy.
17 thoughts on "Grandma’s Kitchen"
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Love “Grandma is this silver/grapefruit spoon, luster
serrated teeth, scoldings/delicate yet unbending.” and “tart intricate sugared/wheel ”
Made me think of my grandmother’s kitchen (red vinyl chairs)
Very nicely done, and this does bring to mind my own grandmother’s kitchen, all the memories from the little trinkets and specific cookware she used. The spinny stools we used to sit on while eating cereal.
Agree with Pam, the line with grapefruit spoon was classic!
And my great grandmother.
🫂
Grapefruit spoons! I love them. That is all.😀❤️😀
The detail here is perfect. You capture a specific place that is universally understood.
“Formica
& the sterling silverware
reflecting morning light
that leaked through bright
white & yellow lacework.”
My gosh, this could be my great-grandmother’s kitchen over on Avenue X in Brooklyn.
A wonderful poem!
What a tender, reverent poem. I still have a few of those silver, serrated grapefruit spoons.
beautiful and tender, the last two lines
Wow! What a transformation from the earlier version. You’ve cut yourself a gem.
The details took me to the scene and age of the eyes of the seer.
Wow! You described grapefruit and this kitchen in vivid detail.
So vivid! You put us right there.
I know those spoons, too. And that wonderful light spilling in.
I love this piece, Coleman. So much to mention and enjoy and I also love “to retrieve memories/from interlocking pink/membranes,” it’s really perfect.
You captured the memory in your deft hand and offered it to us! Thank you!
the shine of those light
green sticky vinyl chairs. – they were the worst!
Still vivid as a Cezanne. Tender
The ways of our grandmothers are priceless, and you captured such tender and memorable moments in your grandmother’s kitchen. Exquisite details brought me right in.