Find more poetry at the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by Karen Edmisten.
Creative Commons, flickr, by photosteve101
Toady is my husband’s birthday. Exactly one week from Valentine’s Day. Last week I posted a love poem. This week I am contemplating the table he made for our family meals. This poem is after Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem “The Comfort of Wood.”
Wishes on Wood
For Jeffafter Naomi Shihab Nye
The Comfort of WoodI come to this table hungry
I come empty as a vase
waiting for the scent of blossoms.I come with no plan;
time stops.
I listen for the birds to return.He built this table
of soft blonde maple.
If you ask, he’ll show you the joints.The table centers the room,
colored chairs I painted with spray;
the green one could use a fresh coat.Now I am learning the strength
of this wood, like a family,
holds all our whispered wishes.–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Reflections on the Teche 
Amazing and wonderful that you found a poem just for your husband, Margaret! Beautiful words, and gorgeous table-special to know about!
Hope you don’t mis-read-when I wrote ‘found’, I meant you “found’ it yourself, your words!
Happy Birthday to your husband! Wonderful that you wrote a poem to celebrate him and the beautiful table he made. Love the last stanza: “the strength of this wood, like a family, holds all our whispered wishes.”
Margaret, I so love your poems and stories! I am so blessed to have met you out there in the desert so many years ago! This poem was especially lovely because I don’t think families sit around their tables any more and that is a shame. It also made me think about my own family’s table, my grandmother’s table and many more! You have inspired me once again! Love you!
Lovely! Reminds me of one I wrote once that was an ode to my husband the bread baker. 🙂
Lovely!
Touching and beautiful, Margaret!