The Art of Raising Yeast

I read a beautiful poem in the Irish Times Supplement- The Art of Making Macarons  by Deirdre Daly and it triggered the following poem for me.

The Art of Raising Yeast

Crumble fresh yeast

between thumb and forefinger

Add blood warm water

and a sprinkle of sugar

Cover with bone dry cloth

And wait

Go feed the chickens

Or plant bulbs for spring

Or take the dog for a walk

And watch the tree-top fringed sky

Suffused in its waking blush

That lightens to pink and then coral

Then gathers itself into a tight ball

Intense as a fire-coal, transfiguring

Chimney pots into Disney turrets

Lighting up a sun-bricked path

Through woods where you crunch

Fallen husks underfoot

Cup and stroke cool hard chestnuts

Surprise a squabbling crow

Beneath the Scots Pine

Then emerge from the woods

And scatter grazing gulls

That let fall white feathers as they rise

Brush these across your palm

And feel their oiled nylon tickle

By now the yeast should

Have fermented

And spread like foam

Thrown up by a Spring tide

It may look like freshly whipped cream

Resist - the urge to sample 

Copyright with Cathy Leonard 2016