quiet rapture of buttered rye

the little girl in the blue-print dress and white apron,
filled the little red bowl
with the thickest heaviest cream
she could find
then she banged around the cabinet
for an electric mixer

i was a tiny bit surprised she knew to add salt
and two tablespoons of honey.

I asked her about that
she said simply
"grandma told me to do that."

I'm not sure where the loaf of rye bread came from
but I almost cried when she buttered a piece
and handed it to me,

"it's ok if you want more."