in an early morning kitchen

in an early morning kitchen
the baker collects her bowls and spoons and measuring cups
lays out her ingredients - flour, butter, milk and sugar
the light is low
only the voice from the radio spills into her space

and then she begins to combine the ingredients
in the early morning kitchen a streak of light stretches across the stainless steel tabletop
before it is smothered in flour
soon a rubbery dough flexes back and forth
on the cool smooth surface
and fights against her every new shove

when the oven reaches the perfect temperature of heat
she opens the door
slides in the pan with settled loaves
awash with hope of warm, tender bites
the baker rinses flour from her hands
wipes them against her apron and sits down on the stool beside the table

where she kneads her hands
softening the tendons and muscles tired from work
in an early morning kitchen