Jam Making
She runs a finger
across the back,
of the wooden spoon
warm tracks through skin.
All instinct here,
no thermometer,
just sugar and fruit
staining the fingers,
bloodying the mouth.
Autumn fugs the kitchen
golden amber wafting
pears and ginger.
strawberries and vanilla.
With sticky fingers I
linger waist high to taste,
she spins the magic
of the weathered old pan.
Glass jars chink expectant,
await their paper hat,
their twine.
In a line, sticky labels
smudge an uneven hand
Jennie Owen is a University Lecturer in Creative Writing, and has been a Senior Editor for the on-line journal Black Market Review since 2008. She lives in Lancashire with her husband, three children and cat.