one potato

down to one potato,
you set it on the counter
after washing
it in cold water.
it's traveled far
to get here and now
it's time.
you take a knife
and slice it down
the middle, then
into quarters.
you boil it in water
until the pieces are soft
and ready to be
mashed with milk
and butter, salt
and pepper. it's your
last potato and
this is how she liked
them cooked. so this what you
do, one last time.