Trish Hopkinson

Lonely Soup

First, check refrigerator for ingredients:
potatoes,
couple of celery stalks,
unopened bag of baby carrots,
half an onion,
moldy strawberries.

Second, peel the potatoes;
throw out the berries;
chop the rest.

Third, place in a large pot with boiling broth.
Fourth, pour a glass of wine and wait.
Fifth, burn tongue tasting the soup.
Sixth, pour two ladlefuls into favorite glass bowl.
Seventh, consume soup,
pour more wine.

First, check email for messages:
a coupon,
an appointment reminder,
spam,
an advertisement,
more spam,
nothing from you.

Second, check voicemail and text messages;
there are none.

Third, look out the window into the driveway.
Fourth, pour a glass of wine and wait.
Fifth, scold heart for aching.
Sixth, question confidence and hairstyle.
Seventh, tears make for salty wine;
pour.

Trish Hopkinson has always loved words—in fact, her mother tells everyone she was born with a pen in her hand. She has been published in several anthologies and journals, including The Found Poetry Review, Chagrin River Review, and Reconnaissance Magazine. She is a project manager by profession and resides in Utah with her handsome husband and their two outstanding children. You can follow her poetry adventures at trishhopkinson.com or on her Facebook page.