Linda Conroy

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Daily Bread

The blender buzzes, whirrs, chops
the solid squares of butter, folds in flour,
sugar, as I turn and turn the crank.

This afternoon is steamy, sticky and I choose
to be indoors, ordering the storm of kitchen work,
the back door open wide to beckon sweeter air.

I hear a trumpet call in swift arpeggio.
My nearest neighbor has a concert coming
and will practice now, with passion of the day.

I churn the blender; ponder on the mix of sound,
think of childhood lessons, the teacher pleading,
no, no, not an A. Place that note in harmony.

So much makes a memory, the dos, the don'ts,
the ways of family, wasteful recipes of doubt,
that well-learned muscle, strength of must.

Linda Conroy is a retired social worker who likes to write poetry portraying the simplicity and complexity of the natural world and of behaviors that make us human. She is the author of two poetry collections, Ordinary Signs and Familiar Sky.