"A graduate of Towson University and Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, Gail Rohrer also studied with well-known watercolorists Alice Webb and Morris Green before moving to Jonesborough in 1997. Her illustrations have been published in Baltimore and in Washington County, TN. Her work has been shown at the Jonesborough East Gallery, Princeton Arts Gallery in Johnson City, and the Jonesborough Visitors Center. She strives for growth by exploring various media to capture moods and ideas while reflecting the ways light changes the character of everyday, commonplace forms." -- gr

Sunday Dinner

      The tablecloth is spread upon the table

      as young hands gather cloth napkins

      and silverware.

      While plates and glasses are taken

      from the hutch.



      Sunday dinner,

      it simmers yet in the kitchen.

      Fried chicken, crisp and golden.

      Summer squash, tender spring peas,

      potatoes and carrots.

      Hot cornbread muffins.



      Sliced red tomatoes 

      share a place with crisp cucumbers.

      As ice tea is made

      and lemonade is poured into a pitcher.



      These are set upon the table

      joined by bowls of mashed potatoes,

      buttered summer squash,

      tender spring peas,

      and carrots

      that are dotted with butter.



      The steam rises as heads bow

      and prayer is offered for the meal.

      Then, as the cornbread muffins are passed

      and the glasses filled

      with ice tea or lemonade,



      kittens watch noses sniffing the air,

      anticipating the fried chicken

      that will find its way from

      the youngest plate.

      As she drops pieces to the floor.

      While her mother passes vegetables, gravy.



      Dinner done, the places are cleared.

      And dessert is brought out.

      Apple pie,

      homemade apple pie.

      Piled high with apples,

      sprinkled with sugar.

      Topped with ice cream.

      Greeted with smiles and praise,

      it is served up with hot coffee

      and milk.



      Then the table is cleared,

      as dishes are done

      and put away.

      The remnants of the meal

      saved for lunch.



      When cold fried chicken

      will be served

      with leftover cornbread muffins

      and salad.

      Atop a red gingham tablecloth 

      on cobalt blue plates.