She felt a little guilty sitting down alone to a small feast, but really, could you BLAME her? It had been a hard time: caring for loved ones who are far away, navigating the political news, and finding time for her own needs. It really had all been too much. As she reached for the OLIVE tapenade and a SLICE of crusty bread, she sighed. Closing her eyes, she focused on the tastes and textures – salty and spicy layer of tapenade umami, the chewy, pillowy, soft crumb of bread within that crunchy crust. She sighed again, only this time less exasperation and more pleasure blew out on that little puff of breath. She appreciated the chance to express all the feelings, like the ELITE connoisseur of life that she was.

Georg’ann

Cats lying on ancient stone
don’t look so GREAT.
Scraggly WHITE one I took
for dead, ears mostly scab.
In our SUITE we hear them
fight and mew. Three kittens
below the balcony
trot behind leathery man
with a bowl. Hardship delayed
for youthful ELITE.
Children laugh in the square.
Rooster crows. Time passes.

Heather