Katherine Spadaro: Two Poems

Ascent

There is a stew, a simple meaty stew in the oven

and the smell of it slowly makes itself at home.

It drapes itself around the curtains, winds around

the jar of wooden spoons, whispers to the piled dishes

in the sink. The two dogs lie paralysed with desire

for the goodness of it, their brains expertly

analysing it within their limp bodies. The smell

takes a last look around the kitchen, enquiring

if it might climb the stairs …? Well, yes, that would be fine,

and it grasps the handrail, an olfactory Midas,

generous, spreading the promise of wealth and

humming a little tune of ascent.

Important Heels

Important heels go click-click-click behind you in the street.

They shout out their importance with a loud and heavy beat;

they carry frowning faces striding on important feet –

importantness needs noise because it scares away defeat.

Katherine Spadaro