Simply came edible art
invited by the bell, intention.
Pale kale finds color in heat from fire,
touch of olive oil, grind of sea salt.
Light from window greets wood.
Eyes feast, smile spreads.
Tongue eager, belly ready to receive
Heart wants to savor, not devour.
Lunch today. Not much time, not many easy or enticing options. As a beginning there is a container of kale on its waning end – rather pale and limp. Frail kale. Yet with the adage “waste not, want not” I vow to eat it. Maybe it can be elevated as part of a greens, grains, and beans bowl put together quickly. Arg, not enough time for a grain. Maybe served next to eggs and toast? Indecision as I reach for a small sauté pan. Add a bit of olive oil and then the kale. Turning with a wooden spoon she takes on color, vibrant green! My impulse is to eat her out of the pan, but I’ve been trying to eat more mindfully more often. In a black bowl she looks so beautiful. Evokes a zen simplicity so chopsticks seem to fit the mood that is emerging. Elements come together. What set out to be a pathetic meal motivated by desperation and speed has become art. An invitation to create, to slow, to appreciate detail. Thus the midday meal becomes a meditation.