The Baker

he knew it wasn’t actually the body of Christ

(since the ingredients were plain enough:

flour, water, and salt)

but still, he liked to make it

 

the measures almost memorized

the motions, rote

(except for the increasing ache

in his aged wrists)

 

again and again and again, a silent prayer

for the people who would gather

in the morning

the body of Christ

 

the timing was the secret:

the loaves in the oven

would need exactly as long to bake

as the ones on the counter to prepare

 

the secret was this:

just keep going