Spice Jars by Ion Corcos

Ion Corcos has been published in Grey Sparrow Journal, Clear Poetry, Communion, The High Window and other journals. He is a Pushcart Prize nominee. Ion is a nature lover and a supporter of animal rights. He is currently travelling indefinitely with his partner, Lisa. Ion’s website is www.ioncorcos.wordpress.com and his Twitter is @IonCorcos.

Spice Jars

A shelf hangs on the wall, lined

with painted jars; a few scratched,

some more than others, designs

like the legs of old furniture

crowded in our lounge room,

painted blue, red, deep orange,

like the sun on a Greek island.

Each jar contains a different spice:

cumin, cinnamon, hot cayenne.

I don’t understand spice.

The jars stand in rows, distant

bottles at the back of an old pharmacy;

hidden from light so they can keep,

like my father’s old books.

Like the paintings hanging on our walls -

Dutch nudes, Spanish distortions,

elegant women -

inside each jar is a mystery,

an unspoken life.