morning adventure of sorts

many years ago
how
did people
live
without electricity?

this morning
about six
too early to call
anyone but the doctor

my electricity
went
away

fuse
kept dropping
popping

and
I had cooking scheduled
in the oven
the electric oven

time's limited
on Thursday mornings

must cook
go to exercise class
and to work

no time to waste
so I had to cook
on top of the stove
with gas

family hates
potted chicken
but raw is worse
stress is worse
chicken was all
thawed and waiting
turkey drumsticks
rattatat tat
waiting too

took out old kettle
to boil the water
and clean the chickens
and wait for
proper time
to call the electrician

looked at the dawn sky
and photographed
for posterity

finally reached the electrician
poultry sizzling on the stove

followed his instructions
to detect
guilty appliance

caught it

my room may be cold
tonight
its heater
guilty
of tripping fuse

and
on Shabbat
we'll eat
old fashiioned
potted and stewed poultry