knowing the fickleness of toddlers
and that the food might sit untouched
hoping to hear an elusive, “Thank you.”
I mixed, sprinkled, sowed hope
with the seasonings
but the dish cooled untouched
inedible as the seconds passed
it reminded me again
when we get what we ask for
once it’s become fact and
placed fragrant at the table
it’s rarely wanted
Jennifer Courtney (jl courtney) is the aging mom of three young children and the fiction editor for Postcard Poems & Prose. She has been published at Page & Spine, Black Heart Magazine, Feathertale, and others. Some people like her cooking.