While We Sat At The Dining Room Table
While We Sat At The Dining Room Table
1
The temptation of comfort separates
us from one another when we consume
to watch T.V. and eat alone in room
a patterned loneliness that distillates.
To microwave our plastic covered meal
and pass our sisters with our eyes down low
then quickly settle in with our own show
it’s hard sometimes to filter what is real.
After our neighbor offers us table
with chair enough to seat the whole family
I try to gather up what’s been broken.
Now cook us hearty meals where I’m able
to stir and think about security
instructions need a place to be spoken.
2
For those who take the time to read each word
will know this poem is far from lighter verse
a look for Dinner during modern curse
and try to find some hope in what’s absurd.
Our Dining Table as our Center Camp
where we assess the damage of the day
and talk about our lives and find a way
to move from Dinner to our Reading Lamp.
A hurricane has interrupted play
we need to educate for safety
there needs to be a gather to instruct.
A place where everyone’s voice has a say,
to replace confusion with clarity
and deadly gossip heard will not obstruct.
3
So much to do no time to write this down,
yet I can talk about the Dining Room
how plates occur and lift us from our gloom
as food and family remove our frown.
The children’s energy seems focused ray
their maximum absorbent rate achieved
discussions where questions answers revealed
a different energy from that of play.
What multifunctionality our move
through despair we are known to share a laugh
or smile even though faces feel the strain.
The reason behind times is hard to prove
and change has made our daily rather tough
our family time will lead us towards gain.
4
Our culture changes quickly when prodded
with strong smells of three course meals freshly cooked
what savory cuisine we’ve overlooked
our time with family needs remodded.
(Especially now when we are faced with harm)
the line up above is not true at all
a table is not hard to reinstall
and we will soon remember all the charm.
The source of all my optimism here
is Dining Room Tables where we will dine
to forget the world and remember “us.”
Around my table there will be no fear
and I will make sure to offer red wine,
my friends, please sit, we have lots to discuss.
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You can also find works by Jamie Lee Hamann on HubPages.
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Jamie, I learned early on that the dining room table was the place for family prayer, gathering, and conversation about the day’s experience. It is the heart of the home. Well done on these verses. I enjoyed reading. Love and peace.
Very much enjoyed Jamie – maybe in this day of instant technology we have lost some of the social grace of the dinning room table…
Thank you Phyllis and Kurt, it is interesting how times have forced my family to return to some better routines. I hope you are well. Jamie
Nicely penned I could picture the family at the dining room table though now mostly a lost art. Enjoyed this very much. Stay safe.
Thank you Rasma.
Hello there,
I can see you are using my picture to illustrate your poetry. You probably found it on Pixabay where you could also find my name. I’m happy to see people using it but please, at least, mention the name of the creator. Even better mention their website.
Thank you
Thank you Pauline for pointing this out I have included a link to your website and moving forward will ensure to do so in the future. Jamie