Caldo de Pollo (chicken soup)

Mom died 11 months ago today

I missed her when I smelled chicken soup
in the nursery this morning

I found it so odd
thought
Mom was stirring up
that pollo in the sky
and held a spoonful to my nose
to say
remember my sopa de arroz ?
I do Mom
and I just ate a lunch
that does no justice
to the flavors you jazzed
up in minutes
when you danced on your feet
waiting for someone
to come home and taste
your marvelous
simply fabulous
cooking

Oh yes Mom
I miss you
and your cooking with garlic
and your messy kitchens
and the smell
of that
chicken soup
that could blanket me
with love
Mexican style
Mama Lucy style
with just a whiff
of warm air-oma
beneath my hungry nose
pointing down to my
starving belly
about to fill
my famished heart.

@Elvia R Arriola 3/18/99