gathering the thyme, garlic, scallions, peppercorns,
parsley, shiitake,carrots, his Henkel knife, extra
virgin olive oil, colander, skillet, and Dutch oven.

After the chop, chop, chop, dice, slice, mince, pinch,
sizzle of sautéing meat,simmer, taste, test; my job was to cinch
the cleanup, soak his tools in suds, scour, rinse, dry.
He did the dance as I watched and felt the aroma penetrate my pores.

Later I joined in, as he did the chop, chop, chop,
dice, slice, mince with his Henkel dancing smoothly across
the cutting board as I learned to sauté, stir, taste, simmer, pinch
herbs to create the culinary magic he had taught.