Fractio panis
First of all, it’s pronounced bruschetta
which you made with tarragon on the night we first met
It’s pronounced aperitif
which we mixed with maraschino and discovered our bodies
It’s pronounced coq au vin
a provincial dish from our first anniversary
It’s pronounced macaron
not macaroon although both make me think of the Seine
It’s pronounced croissant and baguette
and Café du Monde for those nights spent in NoLa
It’s pronounced foie gras
that hateful dish we left for the rats
It’s pronounced gruyère and gouda
and chèvre which you always craved while pregnant
It’s pronounced açaí
our morning routine as the kids run and play
It’s pronounced beef bourguignon
or bœuf, which I hope to discuss over warm Carménère
It’s pronounced cacio e pepe
which we’ll feed to the missionary seeking shelter
It’s pronounced hunger, he said
which is apropos to righteousness
It’s pronounced thirst
which is a kind of inheritance
It’s pronounced weakness
which is where power is made perfect
It’s pronounced lonelinesswhich is commonplace on Sundays
It’s pronounced guilt
which is the thing felt on Sundays
It’s pronounced grief
which is a form of poverty
It’s pronounced weary and heavy-laden
which is all of us
It’s pronounced sojourn
which is where you’ll find self-giving love
It’s pronounced homeless, or unhoused
whichever the case, pay attention:
It’s pronounced poor, said the missionary
For the poor shall be pronounced
Phil Canipe lives in Charleston, SC where he runs a small family business. His work can be found in Ekstasis, The Downtime Review, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, and others. Follow Phil @WatchPhilPost