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The Main Course

Her life feels
very much like

a banquet table
offering only

side dishes,
and all

the chairs
are full,

save one.

— Lavender, Sep 08, 2025

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: United States

Favorite Poets: I tend to read Ted Kooser, Jim Harrison, Billy Collins, Paul Simon, Robert Frost. I like minimalist poetry, and poems reflecting on nature and Mother Earth.

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Critiques

RM

Ray Miller

10 months 2 weeks ago

The Main Course

I can't work out what the poem is saying -that she hasn't found the special one? That she isn't present at the table? I can be slow to catch on to such things. the chairs are "full"is unusual, the chairs would usually be "taken".

Lavender

Lavender

10 months 2 weeks ago

The Main Course

Hello, Ray,

Many satisfactory elements to her life, but she's definitely missing "the one."  I was hoping the "full" chairs would emphasize the emptiness she felt.  I'll give that some thought.

Thank you for reading!

L

Rula

Rula

10 months 2 weeks ago

Dear Lavender

I read this so many times. It has that haunting , somber feeling to it.

The title brings me in  and I thought there should be a delicious kinda recipe, but that last line left me sad.

I am left thinking has anyone ever got that main course? Or has it ever come at all? I wonder

Hope all is good my friend 

Thank you for sharing.

Lavender

Lavender

10 months 2 weeks ago

Hello, Rula,

She's counting her blessings, but still acknowledging there is an aching emptiness.

I am well and hope you are, too!

Thank you for your comments and support!

Lx

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