COMPANIONS
Meaning 'one whom bread is shared with',
from the Latin, so, presumably,
no animal who doesn't practice
the cultivation of wheat can have a companion
in the strict sense of the word, although
wheat free breads are possible and ducks,
feeding on our scattered breadcrumbs, smoothly
glide beside companions. Nobody
with gluten intolerance is condemned to
live alone. Wheat free Danish Patries
can be consumed, buckwheat pizzas even,
as two or more companions meet
for their secular mass, their little ceremony
of breaking bread together. The table
spread between them like an altar, plates
that kiss like meeting spheres and conversation
blossoming like golden heads of wheat
swaying towards each other, almost touching.