Monday, September 29, 2025

“Till That Plate Is Clean, Young Man" by Russell Rowland

The stalemate was over corned-beef hash.
As sunlight faded in the kitchen,
family life went on elsewhere without me.

It was a meal without grace or benediction.

My mind got up from the table many times.
I was back at their wedding,

my little cellophane bag of confetti, tight
in my hands—
I refused to throw any, because it was mine.

I thought back to an even earlier household:

Mother left me there
with another man. I looked a lot like him.
The front door slammed.

Hash-standoff must have ended: here I am.



Russell Rowland continues his trail work for the Lakes Region (NH) Conservation Trust, and his practice of writing a poem every day.

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