Kitchen blinds are brought down for cleaning
with years of vaporized grease
landed to harden on plastic ribs
to soak in a bath of Lestoil
for an unspecified time
until grime can be scrubbed away easily

It’s opening night
though the story rehearsed years on end
with no covering on the windows
they feel naked now
but in a good kind of way
a man - a woman -
their two fur babies
who occasionally must be scolded
with a spray of water
from recycled Windex bottle
having leapt up onto food packed counters

Happily accepting the roles they play
he and she take turns preparing supper
the cooking room
brightly lit for all passers by to view
imagining this small stage
might someday survive to be a
full scale exhibit in a museum
or a series of enlarged black & white photos
at the local art gallery
cleverly titled Culinary Domestica

From second floor bedroom windows
to the right and left
neighbors across the road peek in
can only be reminded of their own humanity
seeing themselves framed –
reflected - refracted within the confines
of sink - fridge and stove

And if they check in
only a few performances later
they’ll view Christmas lights strung up
to give character to the portal
a friendly hello to the audience
no matter whoever
how many they may be

Weeks later after a successful run
the blinds long since been cleaned
and Christmas over
but no way to return them
to their place or origin
with the decorations still pinned to the frame
the play will go on
with a slightly different performance
every night
until finally it’s decided
the blinds will go back up
and the curtain must come down

© 2009

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04/12/2009

Posted on 04/12/2009
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti