From the Book, "WALKING THROUGH MY FIRE"
Award-Winning Poet Ayin Adams shares with us her award-winning poem, "Cooking" first published in Bum Rush The Page, Adefjampoetry book by Three Rivers Press, random house.

COOKING

Melting her candy
on the radiator
she was playing
"cooking"
she ironed her clothes
at seven years old
straightened her hair
as best she could
iron burns
on her wrist and belly
scars, scars, Scars
of playing Mother.
Scrubbing and washing
Carolina rice
over the kitchen sink
stood in a chair
to cook the rice
that they all ate
then she sat down
to read the Bible
and then to pray
"Please God,
I wanna play like a child".