My Mother's Kitchen

[ellajam]

This was a pleasure to read, for me it had some weak and some very strong parts. Here are a few notes.

PART I

My mother’s kitchen I might try "In my mother's kitchen, a large chopping block stands"
has a large chopping block standing
right square in the middle of it I like "square" here as centered and the shape

A sacrificial alter, often donned in the maybe cut "often donned"
pallid, sacred glow of fluorescence
like a dais raised to Gods unknown

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

Nor the world of light, of sense and sight
that clearing struck in the darkness I'm lost here
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 I found this distracting, I could lose this and the following 2 lines
Jocasta, lay with your own son
and you are that majestic, thrilling, sensual darkness, madam
that slimy churning beneath the world

That secret lurker possibly attach to the above? period at the end?
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 I don't know that this and the 2 next lines add anything you haven't already said
to the Father
are said, “In Jesus’ name . . .”

And, like maddened wolves
with ravishing, eternal hunger
that knows no reason . . .
we feast on flesh again

Table as alter is classic, I enjoyed your take on it.
Thanks for the read