Body Politic

Body Politic They sleep under the bright colors they quilted before their sight started straining from the mending and the in-out in-out of crocheting. Their eyes often dream of floating away like big blown bubbles. They hoist heavy pots up to high shelves, pour cornbread batter into sizzling skillets, wash the clothes and sheets and towels for their families. Their arms sometimes discuss slithering away from their all-the-time doing. They stir up batters for biscuits and rolls to sweeten the return of day-in day-out and can the reds and yellows of tomatoes and corn for the long winter months ahead. Their hands kneading, kneading are two wings longing to fly outside up to the branches and perch looking down on the clatter of cook and clean. —Julie Dunlop 100 ...