The cool crisp air of white winter

Sliding through the creaking door

As the warmth kisses your nose

Sluggishly slipping off your heavy coat

The smell of the rich savory pasta

Pouring the hot steaming sauce

The cheese melting and blending

Sitting, stomach grumbling, wanting

Taking the first bite – burning, searing

Then delightfully creamy sweet

Suddenly the hot fiery taste is back

Finishing with a sip of smooth milk

Time will tell they would say and …

Time did tell the day of mourning

And heartache felt like nothingness

All was lost, everything was horrible

Grandmother was no more

She had passed to another world

When she died she brought with her

The savory rich meals of the past

The savory rich dinner was no more

The next dinner was tasteless

No more melting cheese – it was all cold

Everything black and white and plain

Time continued, the meals got less

There was no more heavenly taste

Until one day there was a child

Now the grandmother was back

My mom’s savory dishes appealing

My children eating furiously

The meals’ hot melting cheese

I had been missing it for a long time

My favorite meals no longer in the past

But of the future for all of my children.

by Devin Sexton, Cannon Falls, MN