Gloved with two potholders, I listened while she told me not long ago a girl could not marry until she could roll her dough so transparent her belove… - Julia Alvarez

Writing is hard work, a huge commitment of time, energy, faith, passion, and there’s nothing shameful in the attempt, even if the work doesn’t end up succeeding. I’d rather let someone else do the public culling — I’m exacting enough in private.

I dreamed of stretching my pastry dough out
to cover the earth with a crust so fine
my love would think it was nothing
but the world at his feet,
baked by the summer sun,
dusted with cinnamon.

...the aunts stopped in in the middle of swallows,
heads cocked... as if they had heard
...their own baby crying.
It needed a pinch more of saffron? Paprika?