My Mother's Kitchen

[ChristopherSea]

Overall I liked this a lot! Here are some reactions and comments:

My mother’s kitchen
has a large chopping block standing
right square in the middle of it *may not need ‘right square’ with 'in the middle'*

A sacrificial alter, often donned in the *’donned’ seems like the wrong word, ‘erected’ maybe*
pallid, sacred glow of fluorescence
like a dais raised to Gods unknown

Where we pay homage
with fork and cleaver
not to lord Jesus

Nor the world of light, of sense and sight
that clearing struck in the darkness
of all being, so long ago
by his words of good news

But to mother Earth:
that foul and mysterious creature –
Clymenestra, you would kill your own husband *sp ’Clytemnestra’ (Agamemnon’s wife and murderer)*
Jocasta, lay with your own son
and you are that majestic, thrilling, sensual darkness, madam
that slimy churning beneath the world *These interjecting Greek references seem disconnected*

That secret lurker
in the hearts and loins of all women
and all men

You are the one
I insist, and not without
a tremble

Whom we truly worship when we eat:
after civil prayers, a lip-service
to the Father
are said, “In Jesus’ name . . .”

And, like maddened wolves
with ravishing, eternal hunger
that knows no reason . . . *you don't need ellipsis mid sentence, the thought is complete as written*
we feast on flesh again

Jd, the opening three stanzas and the closing two are great! Most of the intervening strophes stray and distract for me. The Greek references seem tangential and belong in some other ‘mother poem.’ I would keep: 'But to Mother Earth' and build one stanza to join the other aforementioned five for brevity and impact. See what you think. Cheers/Chris