After the Service

You should have stayed for my pale cabbage soup.
The cabbage is pale because all the nutrients
have been turned into broth
for you.
It has leeks that I grew myself,
and dill, lots of dill,
and lemon pepper, and lemon peel,
and for heft and for vitamin C, potatoes.
The ingredients swirl around in the bowl,
steam rises from the broth, and
the herbs and pepper sink to the bottom;
so much to discover.
 
It is good against colds.
It helps with bladder infections.
It bravely fights hunger.
But if you had stayed,
and had some with us,
you would have learned
that what it fights best
is loneliness.