First this: winter wheat,
whole wheat, hard wheat;
grind fine.
Honey, butter, water.

           Yeast.

Then rolling, thumping,
live dough humping
beneath the fingers.

           The yeast.

Soft ball, buttered ball,
buttered bowl, tea towel atop,
white towel atop, the warm kitchen.
You did your part.

           Go away.

Yeast does not need you now. Go,
do a crossword, wash the dishes,
wash the dog, wash your hair.
Don’t come back till boozy air
drifts up the stairs, seeps
beneath the bathroom door.

Pummel again, make loaf,
cover.

           Go away. Yeast
           will do the rest.


© by Diane Lee Moomey.
Used here with the author’s permission.