not much more than a miracle

heat poured out of that garlic, but really
it was sunshine that permeated that soup.

We had planted the recipe in our garden last fall
patient for harvest, patient for that earthly flavour,
fire.

it wasn't much more than a perfect clove,
dry outer into the compost bin, cut clean
garlic oil knife licked clean
fire in the belly
burned clean

not much more than a miracle.