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Chou

Sitting in the kitchen with Delphine,
the old pine table scrubbed
and grooved with generations
of homework and chopped vegetables

Her eyes watch my every move
and 'chou' under her breath;
I am her love and despair
no prowess in the kitchen
but I can make her cry
when I play her favourite tunes.

Years of watching me, at thirteen
I'm not yet woman
but not a child
she knows that she is losing me
and I don't yet know that I am lost.

I was in Mexico when Delphine died
broke, Papa paid for my ticket
but I missed the flight
I heard a whisper say 'chou'
and I stood standby for two days
and made it by the skin of my teeth.

The pine table was covered in food
and the vegetables were uncut,
I played a tune and my wine glass
left a stain on the walnut of the piano
and my tears left a stain on my heart

No one left to say 'chou'
and despair at my lack of culinary skill

I still hear my childhood melody
Delphine chopping, me
taking comfort where I could
a housekeeper and a child,
I said I would write a song
I've written a poem called
'Chou'

Poetry by Elle