. . . (from 1979)
.
Warm obedient flesh,
this sleeping dough
goes in where I push
and out where I pull
and folded
melts into itself
stretching dreams to gluten
on the floured board.
It wakens
and I start to rise
from hidden realms
that no eyes
will ever know
but yours.
.
© 1979, 2018 Betty Hayes Albright
Seasonings 
its funny how somethign so simple can mean so much. thankyou!
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Thank YOU, empress Alice! 🙂
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That’s strange, I’ve just today written a poem with bread and yeast in it (in a metaphorical way) and then I read your poem. Curiouser and curiouser.
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Synchronicity strikes again, Dennis! I decided to close my eyes, pull out a file and opened at random – to that poem. This seems to happen a lot, I’m finding – poets posting on similar themes at the same time. Interesting…. Now I’d like to see YOUR poem!
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I swear I could smell this bread, Betty–yummm! Oh, the poem is good too–“rise from hidden realms”–I love that!!
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Thank you, Caddo! (Wish I could’ve found a better photo – searched everywhere on the internet and that was the only one that fit – that was copyright free.) I used to bake my own bread all the time back in those days… nothing smells better! 🙂
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I just knew you were a bread baker! There’s only 2 that I’ve made: beer bread, really easy and good; and Dilly Bread–also easy, and addictively delish! If you want recipes, I’ll get them to you! (No kneading, or hard work)
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Caddo, I don’t bake bread anymore – it’s been many years. But one of my favorites was that Dilly Bread! (Didn’t it have cottage cheese in it?) Or maybe not – seems to me you still had to knead it. It really HAS been a long time. 🙂
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‘that no eyes will ever know but yours’…..those are the lines that caught my heart..your warmth and light shine from this one Betty…Jane 😀
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Thank you, Jane! 🙂
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Wonderful and having made bread I understand and agree with your metaphor. Thank you for sharing! xxxxxx
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Glad you liked it, Willow. 🙂
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BETTY I’ve worked out how to fix your “about” problem. Tried to e-mail, but your spam detector seems to have decided my e-mails are spam. So how do I get the info you need to you?
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Ben, I’ve been having trouble with email lately (both incoming and outgoing). I’ll email you from a different account and we can try that! Thanks for taking the time to help, I appreciate it. 🙂
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Wonderful – and now I’m hungry!
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🙂 Thank you, David!
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Beautiful and deeply meaningful.
Thank you Betty. Ethel
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Many thanks, Ethel!
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Having made bread, I can immediately see the warm sensuality of this piece and how it could connect with the act. It is really an intimate thing to knead and create. Beautifully worded
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Thank you, V W. Back when I used to bake bread all the time, I loved the kneading part – it did indeed feel sensual.
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Many layers of meaning here, Betty. Wonderful imagery of the inside of the dough having been revealed only to the Maker!
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Thank you, Granbee. 🙂 Glad you saw into the layers!
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Recipe please…
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Recipe is still hidden in the depths of time, I fear….
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This is beautiful, Betty, and so many meanings, yet, I can smell home-baked bread…pass me the plate, please~xx
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Lauren, we need to have a bread making party! (There’s nothing like the smell of bread in the oven. 🙂 )
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Sounds fun! I’ve never made bread, but have always loved to bake. I’m sure the smell is heavenly! 🙂
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I love the intimacy of this…both with the bread dough and those eyes that know you…
As always, beautiful writing, Betty!
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Thank you!!!!!
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Several people have already told you how good this piece is. A can only agree. I have got well behind with my e-log reading. But here is my comment at last. 🙂
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Thank you, Ben – I’m getting behind today myself… alas, never enough time to be on the computer!
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