Juggling

Juggling

Bread-making day
multigrain-sourdough-sandwich
and Kalamata-thyme-Parmesan
Two large bowls
and four little ones holding
honey, butter, salt, starter
my trusty gram scale
two measuring cups,
one with chopped olives, one water
Where did I put my six hands?

Mix up the sandwich bread, 
let it rest
Now the olive loaf, new to me
Kalamatas seem to stick
on the surface; I want 
them embedded
press them in, put it all
in warmed proofing box

Buzzer goes off, add soaked
multigrain to sandwich dough
work in well      cover with damp
cloth, ready to proof until dinner
how many times have I washed
my six hands?

Clock says feed Jazz,
who is staring at me
that fixed sighthound gaze
a steady request
that cannot be denied

Phone alarm chimes—stretch
and fold olive bread
too sticky, dust with flour
work in, return to proof
eight more hours
now the avalanche
of dishes to wash

After dinner, hearthy scent
of bread, my six hands
remodeled into two