The Prize, innocuously hiding
nestled at the far end of the table
amongst oddities and familiar things
home hair-cutting
announced a pink and blue carton
dinner setting for four and a third
once for six but a growing family
things lost things dropped

The treasure unpretentious and utile
a tortured recipe box surprise
scattered through the family favourites
some on tattered scraps
when the cards ran out
bits of a mother's wisdom
and secret love of poetry