In this series, I will take the Word of the Day from Dictionary.com and craft a short piece of creative writing around it. My goal is to embrace the meaning of the word in some unique way, all the while trying out different styles, rhythms and characterizations. It is as much an exercise in creativity as it is an exploration of grammar. Enjoy!
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Panacea
By Alex Seise
Ah, the marvels of warm chicken soup, a panacea for life’s bodily ailments and the darker stains of the soul. A respite of broth encasing tender noodles and carrots and meat with tiny droplets of comforting hot yellow fat floating to the surface. The power of restoration is not contained in its ingredients; rather, it is conveyed through the spoon that stirred the boiling pot, twisted by the hand of a parent or grandparent or child or spouse or friend. For food alone cannot heal deeply; the secretly medicinal ingredient is, and always will be, an extra pinch of love.