breaking bread
the ritual
of breaking bread
he wonders
as he glances along the table
relatives
dear ones
not so dear
no
some not so dear
at all
talk and talk and eat
and
pass the salt along
the wine
ha ha
a merry jest
ha ha
so
humorous
everyone
at table
and all of them
breaking bread
he wonders
will he see them
again
he wonders
does he hope to
he has nothing
in common
with these breakers of bread
but the ritual
the occasion
the
affirmation
of breaking bread
just once a year
he breaks his bread
and glances
along the table
and wonders
if he still belongs
here
with these
to break this bread
~