bittersweet

I remember being so poor
we slept on couch cushions  
in the kitchen in winter  
used the oven as a heater  
 
We lived on charity bread  
cheesy polenta  
and chicken bouillon soup  
 
I'd heat rice milk on the stove  
with honey and black tea  
for a cold night treat  
sipping the sweet warmth  
under the covers  
while we watched a dvd  
on my dodgy laptop  
before falling asleep  
to the glow of the oven light  
 
It's been a decade since  
money was so scarce  
I own a microwave  
and no long need to sleep  
in front of kitchen appliances  
to stay warm  
when the weather gets cold  
 
But I remember how it felt  
standing in front of that stove  
making sweet tea  
anticipating the way  
it would warm my bones  
on the frozen nights  
when money was scarce  
and the dvd movies were good  
 
 © Indie Adams 2022