I turn on the oven
Its warmth fills the house
as I start whipping eggs
and adding vanilla
sifting
and sorting
blending
and tossing
and turning
kneading the dough in my mind
waiting patiently for it to rise

punch down
stifling the bad memories that come up
let it rise again

I wrap the smell of home baking
around me
like a protective blanket
to fill my insides
to shield me against the hate