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 ...
 
------------------------
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

On white butcher block paper

Coming to the meat counter
to take our order, moving,
diving into conversation,
the local butcher at Cantell's Market,
remembering his working hands,
wiping them on a towel,
the nub of his thick pencil…
 
His scrawl on white butcher block paper,
the details of mom’s order,
his white apron tied in the front,
starched but covered,
with blood, all of the juices,
working quickly, a line behind us
meats wrapped in white butcher block paper ...
 
------------------------
Edited March 17, 2024
On white butcher block paper
 
March 17, 2024
On butcher block paper
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/on-butcher-block-paper.html
Cantell's Super Market
11 Franklin Street
Westfield, MA
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 #WestfieldMA #Cantells #butcher

On butcher block paper

Coming to the counter

To take our order, moving,

The local butcher at Cantell's Market,

Remembering his hands,

The nub of his pencil, 

His scrawl on the butcher block paper,

His white apron covered,

With blood, all of the juices,

Working quickly, a line behind us ...

------------------------
March 17, 2024
On butcher block paper
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/on-butcher-block-paper.html
Cantell's Super Market
11 Franklin Street
Westfield, MA
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 #WestfieldMA #Cantells #butcher

Open to Adoption – v2

Choosing to be adopted

ah, that is the key point

isn’t it, the essential fact

A different act, when it is

a purposeful step, choosing

whether in earthly terms

or accepting the offer

paid in full, finally,

one time for all

by the Lamb, by Jesus

An adult has a choice,

the gift of free will

which path to choose

a boldness in choosing

being open to adoption,

penitent and thankful,

by a loving mother or father.

===============

edited December 9, 2015

Open to Adoption – v2

July 15, 2006 23:00

Open to Adoption

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/07/open-to-adoption.html

About Ephesians 1:3-14 and

about the adoption at age 25 in 1913 of my grandfather,

Arthur Leon Foss by Georgiana Foss, matron of

the Faith Home orphanage in Lowell, MA.

Honoring her by taking the name he had always known.

Recognizing the consciousness of accepting

God’s offer of adoption, with its rewards and responsibilities.

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,330+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tickling the back of her throat

Little colored crystals
transparent liquid glass
little slivers of ice
tickling the back of her throat

The juice in the can
pulled from the porch
stored in nature’s freezer
quenching her morning thirst

Stored on the counter
thawing today
more juice for her drinking
shards melting in her cup

January 24, 2011

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.