Making Do

swiss chard in a metal colander

A Broken Tooth

I had been unable to find a black candle for kwanzaa this year.

another subtle but key break in tradition

i was not sure if I would be punished or praised

for a flash of

brilliant light of creativity or the lightening bolt of displeasure

that

for generations

that would be lost

if it was I who did not

keep the tradition

and assuredly pass it along

I broke a tooth on the last day of the year.

I had for several days had a craving

for

christmas cookies the sweet

flat crispy

kind

and I had a stash

to bake

that had nuts and cranberries

I was careful to put them on the middle rack

lower the temp to the unreliable unpredictable oven

They were perfect

I took a bite and then a wince to the gum line and a sharp sting

I spit out what I thought was a walnut piece