Instructions: Mama burns the milk in the black pan
as she stirs brown sugar
in by hand
bringing it to a simmer
humming a wordless tune
which echoes through the room
in rhythm with the stirrings
of the wooden spoon
adding in droplets of water
like tears in the mixture
to keep the pan from scalding

when she feels the thickness
she pours the steaming liquid
into rows of iron molds
scorching her fingers
as the steam comes back upon her
like words in retribution
but she continues in her motions
until the pan is emptied

mama sits on a broken chair
wiping the sweat dripping from her hair
as the cool begins to harden
the candies in their prison
closing her eyes only for a moment
before rising to put up the milk and sugar and to wash the cold dirtied pan
to make room for evening dinner

as mama boils a pan of water
she begins to hum
the same wordless tune

David E. Cowen

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