Our house was built in 1950

It’s modest and too small for most

But the perfect place for  you and me

Soon to be paid off – our secret boast

On a Sunday night you made shepherd’s pie

We were hungry and ready to dine

You asked me to go to the kitchen to check on the cheesy bread

So I went – because I didn’t mind

I pulled the bread out of the oven

And looked over to see something bubbling

The glass dish sat on the stove

Holding meat and veggies – a scrumptious trove

Why was it bubbling – I wanted to know – as I munched at a piece of cheesy bread

Stomach growling, aromas circling

Beloved Billy the Golden retriever was lurking and cocked his head

I scanned the buttons and saw that the back burner was on

Medium-high

I thought, “Oh no – I must protect the pie!”

I shifted the glass dish to the side

“I can’t believe the glass didn’t break!” you yelled from the other room

Foreshadowing the imminent “Ka-boom!!”

The glass dish exploded

Potatoes, veggies, beef afloat in the air

With shards of glass everywhere

Potato goo sprayed onto my pants

I shewed Billy out of the kitchen

It looked like a new dance

As I twirled and waved my oven mitten

Cut puppy paws would be an awful circumstance

We cleaned the kitchen in our sorrow

Sweeping and scrubbing

Shepherd’s pie embedded in the stove and glass

Under the fridge and on the floor, in the neighboring dish

Hot to cold in an instant – the great chemical trespass

Also, the burner left on

An unspeakable wrong

But we came together and cleaned it up

Removing glass from the linoleum

Amazingly none of us got hurt

Later we had tuna, brussel sprouts and Chinese for the dinner dish

Some day we’ll laugh when we remember this

At the end of it all we still had amazing food

In a cozy, quiet, nearly paid-for-house

With peace and health – priceless

I’m grateful for how nice this is

Despite shortcomings and food explosions, glass obstacles

We help each other and are kind

True love and marriage – a miracle

We forgive and tonight we go again

Shepherd’s pie – a second try

Hoping to get it right

But even if it fails

You with me – and Billy – all together and happy –

Skin unscathed

Hearts of love

Unafraid

In the end we prevail