The Aftermath of Fellowship

The silence kept holy to the echoes

of chat and laughter

of joys and sorrows shared

The sinkful of plates testifies

to the many who’ve been there

to the sharing of good food

And the one who is left

to survey the messy scene

before rolling up sleeves and beginning to clean

takes a pause

takes a breath

one last lingering sip

basking in the aftermath 

of such joyous fellowship.