POETRY -
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Target Selected - Execution Pending - Weebly.com
Military Maneuvers
0200 hours, April 26, 2020
by Kathryn Santana Goldman
Waiting for the Charge - Charlene Anderson
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In line by 0730, equipped for the charge.
Whole Foods opens its doors at 0800 assault begins. Homemade mask affixed to my face, hand sanitizer at the ready, paper grocery list with pen. This once pleasant, leisurely experience requires execution with military precision. Searching my kitchen shelves, a comprehensive inventory of my armory. I know what is needed for survival. Topography of the battlefield is familiar-- paper goods on my left flank, center aisles for produce, dairy and fish in the rear. Bright orange floor strips mark the DMZ of 6 feet, arrows point out the hazards. Psychology is required for success. Stay alert for unexpected roadblocks. Faced with empty shelves in the “One Per Customer” aisle suppress defeat and carry on. Resist the urge to hiss “keep moving” at the person hovering too long over a can of beans, tomato sauce, eggs. I use my cart to block unauthorized entry into the checkout line, smiling with my eyes at the offending party. Upon exiting, I thank the door sentries, cashiers, baggers, and stockers for keeping these hunger games in check. Home by 0830 to rendezvous with my husband, delivering the provisions for another two weeks. Mission accomplished. |
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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.
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