Cleaning up after a meal should be gradual,
respectful of where good conversations extend:
The gathering of kindred souls is magical.
Words, laughter, glances weave feelings convivial,
clumping tightly into shapes it’s harsh to upend:
Cleaning up after a meal should be gradual.
Delay jump starting the stack, clash of removal,
cleaving the brief coven of family and friends.
The gathering of kindred souls is magical.
After shared bounty, with leftovers’ disposal,
slide new-birthed memories, hearts’ bonds, hurts on the mend.
Cleaning up after a meal should be gradual.
When haste rends once, a waste; in constant reprisal,
an abandonment. Conjure against it! Transcend!
The gathering of kindred souls is magical.
Each table’s a rich field growing societal
crops which, if smashed down, hopes of the future might bend.
Cleaning up after a meal should be gradual;
the gathering of kindred souls is magical.