Judith Edelstein

Domestic Moment, as Homeric Simile

Forgotten, the philodendron fades
like a girl left too long to wait
for the one who ought to love her.
Slumped in a cafe corner booth
she does see him step anxiously
past servers lined up like portico pillars
as he makes his way among the waitresses
with their hoisted trays of soup and salad.
In much the same way,
our philodendron is drooping
on the dining room table unaware
that you, her faithful caregiver,
have come at last with a full
plastic pitcher, pushing past me,
who should have been attending
to houseplants in your absence.

Judith Edelstein is a retired teacher and librarian living in Corvallis with her partner of 40 years.