unlit matches

making bread

i'm kneading the dough
hopeful it will rise

i've studied countless recipes,
all have said just give it a little time

i'll leave it, i will not check on it,
just leave it alone

let the dough form on it's own

...

i'm incredibly impatient
so i'll check on it once,

it will not hurt to check
on it just this once, right?

i will not touch it, wiggle it
or try to read it's mind,

just a small peak under
the cloth, check it is getting on alright.

i've checked, i swear it has not
risen at all.

flat and limp.

i checked on it too early
now it might not ever want to rise

stupid me, i read the recipes
i know the timings

i should have left it
alone

let it breathe, become comfortable,
become light.

i'll leave it, i'll leave it, i'll leave it.

i'm leaving the room,
give some extra space for it.

no, i'll leave the house
and go for a run.

weave through the park
clear my head

think about the sun?

...

the run did nothing,
i cannot stop thinking about my dough.

i've read online somewhere
that damp cloths are the way to go.

rinse under warm water until damp
but not soaking wet.

i think this is damp?

what is the difference between
my damp and your soaking wet?

it will work, this will work

all i need to do is
lay the damp cloth over the dough.

just stretch it over the bowl,
and then leave it alone.

...

the cloth doesn't cover the bowl,
doesn't even fully cover the dough.

i'll rinse another cloth, yes!

another cloth damp and
over the bowl

will definitely double,
maybe triple the dough in size!

all i have to do now
is leave it alone.

...

but i'm sure i also read somewhere
that lathering the dough with oil

will not only make it rise faster
but also taste more delicious

so really i am doing this dough
a disservice by not immersing it in oil.

maybe i can also add some rosemary
and thyme, perhaps a little spice

to really help the flavours come out.

all the cloths off, let's douse you
in everything i can find

that's supposed to make you nice.

now i can re-cloth you
and leave you alone

knowing i've taken all the extra measures
to make you rise better.

...

it has been three hours
since i last checked on your progress

i'm so excited to see
how much you've risen

lift the cloth, just a sneak peak
and, oh, you've only come up a tiny bit.

i don't understand, look at everything
i did to help:

the damp cloths,
oil, even herbs and spices!

you should be quadruple in size
you should be thriving

but you look like you're drowning
in oil

and my herbs are causing
weird indents and bruises.

the cloths would have been enough
but maybe they were more wet

than damp

and i should have trust the process,
should have let you do it in your own time.

now i'm left with soggy dough
that can't go in the oven.