FENNEL Poem by Jan Wagner

bulbs in front of a vegetable shop in winter -
like wan hearts, you said, tight packed
in a crate, in need of warmth - so that we

took them with us, carrying them home
to where the fire burned in the grate,
to where the candles burned on the table,

and helping them out of their thin skins,
topped their stalks, removed their trembling leaves
and hacked them into fine, white flakes,

waiting until the water had boiled,
and the window pane was blind from the steam.