On white butcher block paper – v2

I remember how I felt,
marveling at the look of it,
the way mom interacted,
the banter, the repartee,
being known in the gate,
a friend, not just a customer,
returning again and again…
 
Coming to the meat counter
to take our order, moving,
diving into conversation,
the local butcher at Cantell's market,
remembering his working hands,
brusquely, wiping them on a towel,
the nub of his thick pencil at the ready…
 
His scrawl on white butcher block paper,
writing the details of mom’s order,
his white apron tied in the front,
starched but covered,
with blood, all the juices,
working quickly, a line behind us
meats wrapped in white butcher block paper ...
 
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Edited March 19, 2024
On white butcher block paper – v2
 
Edited March 17, 2024
On white butcher block paper
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/on-white-butcher-block-paper.html
March 17, 2024
On butcher block paper
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/on-butcher-block-paper.html
Cantell's Supermarket
11 Franklin Street
Westfield, MA
Owned by Richard L. Cantell
Matchbook cover - https://www.ebay.com/itm/364698495439
&
Edited February 22, 2024
Willing the ball Fair – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/willing-ball-fair-v2.html
Edited February 22, 2024
Learning to Swing – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/learning-to-swing-v2.html
&
Edited February 13, 2024
Roads in the dirt – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/roads-in-dirt-v3.html
&
Edited February 13, 2024
winged samaras – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/winged-samaras-v3.html
&
February 1, 2024
A metal slug
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-metal-slug-coin.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com  Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, family, childhood, play, Westfield, MA, Cantells, butcher,
 
#Poetry #family #childhood #play #Westfield #MA #Cantells #butcher