A Poem for Home

A Pot of Red Lentils

by Peter Pereira

simmers on the kitchen stove.
All afternoon dense kernels
surrender to the fertile
juices, their tender bellies
swelling with delight.

In the yard we plant
rhubarb, cauliflower, and artichokes,
cupping wet earth over tubers,
our labor the germ
of later sustenance and renewal.

Across the field the sound of a baby crying
as we carry in the last carrots,
whorls of butter lettuce,
a basket of red potatoes.

I want to remember us this way—
late September sun streaming through
the window, bread loaves and golden
bunches of grapes on the table,
spoonfuls of hot soup rising
to our lips, filling us
with what endures.

"A Pot of Red Lentils" by Peter Pereira, from Saying the World. © Copper Canyon Press, 2003. Reprinted with permission. (buy now)

I wanted to share this poem (I had to read it for my English class), because it reminds me of home! Also because its perfect for fall. It made me miss our fresh vegetables from the garden, and how in the spring and summer we would weed the garden as a family (okay, i hated doing that...but I miss being together.) And it made me excited for Christmas, when we eat lentil soup and spend time as a family! I guess the point is, I miss home. Love you all!