Ode to PB&J

Once upon a childhood noon,
Where hunger loomed, a silent tune,
I stood before the sacred shrine—
The kitchen counter, fate divine.

Two slices, plain, no crown, no crest,
A humble stage, a simple test.
One smooth, one sweet—a perfect pair,
A love that lingers in the air.

Peanut butter, thick and bold,
A tale of warmth, of hands that hold.
It clings, it stays, it whispers tight,
A steady force through joy and plight.

And jelly—oh, a burst of bright!
A liquid sun, a star at night.
It spills, it sings, it dares to run,
Yet always finds where it belongs.

A dance of two upon the bread,
A harmony of gold and red.
They swirl, they press, they intertwine—
A masterpiece, both yours and mine.

But oh, the wars that raged before!
Which one should touch the bread first—more?
Some choose the peanut, thick and sure,
A sturdy base, a grip so pure.

While others vow by ruby streams,
Let jelly touch the bread, they dream.
And yet, in truth, it matters not—
For in the end, the two are caught

In perfect balance, side by side,
No need to clash, no need to hide.
For in this world of push and shove,
They teach the art of blended love.

I take a bite—and time dissolves,
A life of moments, years evolved.
Lunchbox days and sticky hands,
A world of dreams in crustless strands.

I taste the mornings, rushed and bright,
When Mom would spread it, left to right.
The hurried hugs, the playful grins,
The gentle love that life begins.

And later still, on nights alone,
When silence hummed a hollow tone,
I’d reach for bread, the jars in place—
And find an old, familiar grace.

For in this life, so thick, so sweet,
Where joy and struggle often meet,
We spread, we fold, we press, we mend—
Two halves made whole, like foe and friend.

So here’s to you, my steadfast guide,
A childhood love that’s never died.
A bond unbroken, soft yet strong—
The lesson we have known all along.

That even when the world may fray,
Some things will never slip away.
A bite, a taste, and I believe—
That love is something you can weave.

Between two slices, side by side,
A simple meal, a love that’s tried.
Peanut butter. Jelly. Bread.
A story told. A life well spread.