Something Useful
My grandmother has known war as a staple
in the pantry you never run out of,
like jasmine rice or green lentils, or the thick
viscous olive oil she harvests which doubles as
ointment for deep wounds. She kept the blood
at bay on her gashed ankle by slathering the
slimy blessing, placed a torn piece of pita,
wrapped it all in thin gauze. Don't ask me
what the properties are and how she knew.
All I know is that it worked.
All I know is that when war is a staple in
your pantry, you learn what to do with it,
how to preserve it, how to turn it into
something necessary, into something useful.
