Hidden on kitchen table
behind a pillar of salt,
she, in buttoned up white
blouse with starched collar,
pepper remains aside,
spice too hot for tongues
lashed harshly by his words
bitten and chewed up
Given a choice between
the two, perhaps salt,
though I am compelled
to forego both, unseasoned.
Copyright © 2022 Julie A. Dickson
All Rights Reserved
Julie A. Dickson began writing poetry and stories as a young teen, being recognized in high school as a budding writer, winning contests for poetry and advertising jingles for many years. Dickson served on two poetry boards, coordinated 100 Thousand Poets for Change for 5 years, and is a Pushcart nominee who loves feral cats and advocates for captive elephants. Her poetry appears often in over 50 journals, including Ekphrastic Review, Blue Heron Review, Misfit and Open Door. Dickson holds a BPS in Behavioral Science and worked in both healthcare IT and among elderly with dementia.
Featured Image: by Artur Pawlak, Pixabay
Author Photo: Provided by the Author
Barbara Harris Leonhard
Amazon Best-Selling Author
Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir, (EIF-Experiments in Fiction, 2022)
Pushcart Nominee, 2022
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MasticadoresUsa // Editor: Barbara Leonhard 
Thank you, Julie, for your beautiful poem.
I noticed that you like feral cats, in that case, you might be interested how I saved a feral cat from dying during the harsh winter.
I have written about him in my blog under «The Cat That Won a Million»
You can just put it in Google and it will be in front of you: naturetails.blog
Joanna
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Congratulations on the publication of your poem. I am curious if I am right. I see a woman who has been beat down, who has been taught harshly to obey etc., she wants the pepper but she is afraid to have either in the end. Sounds like a crisp, clean, proper woman told exactly what to do. I hope you will let me know if I am even close, great piece Julie. Thank you, Joni
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This is a powerful poem. Well done.
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Congratulations Julie on a wonderful poem.
Love these lines:
«though I am compelled
to forego both, unseasoned.»
💗
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