The Big Catch by Catrin Welz-Stein
in the kitchen she sets a table,
cuts the fat rim from the meat
(he can’t digest),
fills the vase, gramma gave her for their wedding
with a bunch of buttercups
&visions of a long sunk meadow
as she watches him
outside on the railing,
facing his own catch–
bulgy eyes// decently dressed//
& both know it is over
just a little splash,
(hardly audible) as he goes down
she pulls the pan back from the burner,
blows a cloud of pollen (indian yellow) off the table cloth
& lights the beacon– SOS
as they should’ve
years ago
.
smiles…couldn’t resist to do a second poem for our poetics prompt with the wonderful artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein
jaywalking the moon 
So the fish got the worm? Interesting tale.
so many levels to think about!! well done, fine work!!
this line speaks volumes “& both know it is over”
Love it when cooking is used to describe the intangibles of the relationship falling apart ~ “Facing his own catch”, a clever line ~
Beautiful poem on several levels. Enjoyed the word gramma. So much said in a short poem. Excellent job.
I can’t cook, doomed at my nook, or maybe not, if i weave a good plot lol
Such a sad tale in ever so few words… I’m tempted too to do a second take
This one speaks volumes regarding the stages of an ending relationship. Deep meaning in few words, and the pic just illustrates it so well.
Nice that you wrote a second one. The pics are very stimulating.
just a little splash, (hardly audible) as he goes down
This to me tells the saddest tale.
oooh… very moving and beautifuly told.
“&visions of a long sunk meadow…”
hurts my heart a bit….the divide between them…the feeling of inevitability i get in reading this…she prepping his food the way he needs…still serving…the reminders of what they once had…but….that void hurts….
As the moon, hidden, watched…
the dish ran away with the spoon
as the fish ran away with the spooner.
SOS! (Before? Now,? NEVER???)
Beautifully inspired, even if I got it wrong…IS there ever a “wrong”?–grin!
Such a brilliant way to describe this phase of their relationship…wonderful symbolism throughout the poem…a wonderful write.
O. Figures the fish would get him as his purchase was much too small to balance, and the SOS can never be answered in time … amazing that the pan didn’t burn in all the should haves here!
Wow. This is really quite tough to read – the ending of a relationship… So delicately done.
poignant… like looking at hard truths that should have been seen much earlier – I’m reminded of a longtime relationship my spirit left long before my physical self did… love this interpretation of the pic, claudia
meaningful every part of poem, and the last ‘lights’ – like stop sign – to take pause before new move…thoughtful poem
This was a wonderful challenge and a very cool poem.
Gorgeous and meaningful…it pulls me in different directions. Liz is right, a very cool poem.
a much needed SOS indeed.. loved this take.. and two offerings today:)
A really good poem!
Power packed!Loved the layers in here Claudia:-)Loved the lines ,”just a little splash,
(hardly audible) as he goes down” was amazing-full of meaning,and the ending-wow-yes,years ago,they should have ended this relationship or not have gone ahead-sad!!
The pain of a relationship ending even as she cuts his meat and sets the flowers. Ouch.
And onward…I guess. Lighting the beacon…like staying in touch?
Nice metaphors in your writing. Both of them. I am smiling.
Loved the ending. Great tropes, too. Loved it. Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
I adore the setting of something so normal (although sad) with something so “unbelievable”.