i smell what you're burning

you were

never good in the kitchen.

around

knives,

or bowls, spoons or

spatula.

what didn't you spill,

or burn.

there was never an oven

that didn't catch

fire,

or set the smoke

detector off.

you were a recipe for

a disaster

with your oven

mitts,

and fancy apron,

the bones in the fish,

the cascade

of peppers and turmeric.

your cooking was better

elsewhere,

in a different room,

away from

the kitchen.