LORETTA’S GIFT by Jennifer Smith

Loretta's Gift by Jennifer Smith

Loretta weaves baskets from willow,

on a screened in porch at Lost Creek Church Camp;

hands adorned in Appalachian artistry,

not opals or pearls.

Fingers kindred with forest fibers,

landscape sourcing the vessels deep;

form and function entwined, designed

in crisscross flair.

Loretta bakes in farmhouse kitchen,

cinnamon swirls through sourdough raisin,

suppleness sifts, palms knead dough,

shaping loaves—and life.

Knowing that idleness lures devil's work,

artisan fingertips form angel biscuits,

and pick blueberries ripened by summer

to dot lemon scones.

When autumn comes, weathered hands tuck

honey wheat bread inside a sunflower tea towel,

nestling loaf into willow basket,

with handcrafted recipe cards.

for great niece Juniper.

Jennifer Susan Smith is a retired speech-language pathologist, residing in northwest Georgia. Her work appears in WELL READ Magazine, The Bluebird Word, San Antonio Review, First Literary Review East, and more. Jennifer is chairman of Alpha Delta Kappa Pages and Pearls Book Club, and is a member of Chattanooga Writer’s Guild. When not writing, she enjoys walking and audiobooks.