then we prayed

at the first sign of
someone sneezing, or blowing
their nose
my mother would throw a chicken
into a boiling pot
of water.
she'd slice up a handful
of up carrots, celery stalks,
then toss in a box of noodles.

the whole chicken once
cut up went in.
neck, legs,
wings, etc.
skin and bones.
the meat going soft,
falling away in the heat.

the house smelled of chicken
soup and vicks vapo rub
for a week
all in the hope of keeping
us in school.

salt and pepper.
saltine crackers,
a caboose of butter,
hard as a rock
with a dull knife beside it.
cold milk and wonder bread
stacked on a round plate
all sat in the middle of
the table. then we
prayed.