Orphans - Oct. 21, 2026

spoons large and small

classy and plain, mostly

scratched and well-worn,

one or two shiny and new,

probably orphaned at a party,

left behind in a dish or

alone on the counter

years of spoons folks brought

for ice cream, Jello, mac n’ cheese,

coleslaw, casseroles, crisps, deviled eggs,

green beans, rice and potato dishes,

that sit in the same drawer with

our spoons

these spoons, like all our spoons,

treated with the same expectation

that good service will receive good care

and over the course of their lives

we encourage them to ask around,

see if they can locate either parent

for a reunion we’d be happy for

but if that never happens,

they’ll always have a home here,

with mouths to feed