Vistas & Byways Review - Fall 2020
  • Contents
    • In This Issue
    • Fiction
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Bay Area Neighborhoods
    • Inside OLLI
  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Submissions
  • Archive
    • Spring 2020
    • FALL 2019
    • SPRING 2019
    • Fall 2018
    • SPRING 2018
    • FALL 2017
    • FALL 2016
    • SPRING 2016
    • FALL 2015

POETRY   
​        with a focus on the Pandemic


The Flamingo Mystery, March 2020
​by Kathryn Santana Goldman

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Photo by Author
Another day without people begins.
New morning rituals—becoming habits.
I wipe down counters, scrub doorknobs,
wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands.
 
Seeking a moment of calm,
I walk out to my front garden and find
a bright red flamingo boldly standing on one wire leg,
an abrupt addition to my artistically designed garden.
 
Then looking down the street,
I spy more have landed.
A green one for Rhonda,
orange for Chris, purple for Carmel.
 
Another day of social distancing
disrupted by this
rainbow flock
of unexpected playfulness.
 
What is the source?
Texting commences!
No one confesses to
the mystery of our avian guests.

I called mine Pepper,
Rhonda called hers Chive.
It probably wasn’t wise to name them,
but I’m eager to hold on.

The next morning
teacup in hand,
I retraced my steps--
Pepper was gone.

All of the flock had flown,
leaving the touch
of human kindness
in their wake.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathryn Santana Goldman is a native of San Francisco. Her 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
Military Maneuvers, 0200 Hours, April 26, 2020
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IN THIS ISSUE

BAY AREA NEIGHBORHOODS

FICTION

INSIDE OLLI

NONFICTION

POETRY

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Vistas & Byways Review is the semiannual journal of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at San Francisco State University​.​
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University (OLLI at SF State) provides communal and material support to theVistas & Byways  volunteer staff.

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  • Contents
    • In This Issue
    • Fiction
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Bay Area Neighborhoods
    • Inside OLLI
  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Submissions
  • Archive
    • Spring 2020
    • FALL 2019
    • SPRING 2019
    • Fall 2018
    • SPRING 2018
    • FALL 2017
    • FALL 2016
    • SPRING 2016
    • FALL 2015