POETRY  -  
          With the Theme of Making or Breaking Bread

" Beneath lime-green filtered sunlight
the picnic table groans "
​
                                     Photo by  Weebly.com                                    

The Summer Luncheon
by Kathryn Santana Goldman

Beneath lime-green filtered sunlight
the picnic table groans under
a cacophony of voices
sharing 30 years of history.
 
Neatly folded stories
are tucked next
to each plateful
of personal secrets.
 
With forks full of caution
we carefully exchange news
as we swallow spoons full
of questions not asked.
 
After a second glass of chardonnay,
our knives cut through the bull shit!
 
Dredging up memories—-
the asshole that Sue dated and later married,
lovely Mary who died too early,
the six pack of Coors in Mary’s locker.
 
We avoid pulling off the scabs:
      -   a wedding unattended.
      -   a birthday forgotten.
      -   a funeral not acknowledged. 
​
Laughter connects the years
yet, all courses are not served.
We preserve our private recipes
of disappointments and demons.
 
Sweet summer strawberries and whipped cream
bring us back from the edge of exposure.
The knives are washed
and edges put away.

Strawberry Shortcake

​Serves 8
 
Ingredients
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
1-1/2 quarts fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced
 
Directions
1. In a bowl, cream sugar and shortening. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add alternately with milk to the creamed mixture. Spread in a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Cool on wire rack. 
 
2. Cut into nine servings. Split each serving horizontally and fill with whipped cream and strawberries. Replace top of cake; garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and more berries. Serve immediately.

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​​A native of San Francisco, Kathryn Santana Goldman’s interest in poetry began when she was working in ICU as a registered nurse. She used this practice to process the variety of stressful scenarios experienced. Over the years, she has continued to experiment with different types of writing such as short stories and plays. As an avid traveler, Kathryn has become skilled at capturing photographs about the diversity she encounters. Three years ago, she began to combine her love of photography with her writing by using the images she captures as seeds for her poems. She continues to explore new ways to use these two art forms to share her experience with family and friends.

Other works in this issue:
Poetry:
​Not My Father's Pasta
Corn Husk Memories

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