mother's chicken soup

my mother was

proud of her home made 

chicken soup.

she was never

happier

over the stove

with a boiling cauldron

of cut celery

and carrots and a whole

chicken

simmering in the mix.

are you hungry,

she'd ask us as we came

in to see what that smell

was.

then we'd lift our shirts

to show her our

rib cages and tell her, mom,

we need meat.

i'll add in some dumplings

she'd say.

now go out and play,

i'll call you in when

dinner is ready.