I know the dishes in the blue plastic-coated wire drying rack, 
How they sit together facing south to our courtyard of bricks
While the bowls and saucers face north to our refrigerator.
I know the spoons in the northern compartment of the blue plastic utensil rack
And the forks in the southern.
I know knives, chopsticks, and ladles in the white plastic utensil rack
	imported from another rack.

I know, too, the jumble of plates and bowls in the rack
Forks fencing with spoons, knive josting with chopsticks 
in the two blue compartments after she has washed
for years.







			Brandywine
		       11/3/99