I wrote this for the poetry jam, where the prompt this week is "you can go home again." I had so many memories to choose from, but for some reason this particular one bubbled to the surface. As soon as I thought of it I was right back there in the kitchen of the home where I grew up. It makes me laugh now, but I have to tell you that I spent the entire summer being indignant. Of course, I was a teenager, so indignant was my natural state.
Rooked
I stand at the kitchen island
case knife in one hand,
Duke’s mayo jar in the other.
Muttering under my breath
I fling the ham and the cheese
then start on the banana sandwich,
schmear saltines with peanut butter.
Aggrieved sighing accompanies
the scooping of cottage cheese
and canned pear halves.
This was the summer
I packed my dad’s lunch
every single day
because my mom
cheated at cards.
To read more homegoing tales, go here.
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2024 Project 365 – Week Forty-six
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I imagine you are great at making sammies now! Practice makes perfect, dear.
ReplyDeleteThat's the truth! It was good training for packing Mike's & my lunches now :)
ReplyDeleteMy dad always said that his lunches were packed with love - at which my mom & I always cackled :)
My lunches ARE packed with love...I can pack my own, but when The Bug packs them, they are better :-)
ReplyDeleteThose sound like some interesting sandwiches. I've never had a banana sandwich.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny! No wonder you've grown up the way you have . . having had a mother who cheated at cards! :)))
ReplyDeleteOoh she was SO competitive! She would NEVER let me take the bid, even if I had the BEST hand. Grrr…. We sure had a lot of fun :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the title I thought you were going to write about the warmer weather back home. Packing lunches must have been on your mind today. Great job on the poem!
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy and the ending was unexpected.
ReplyDeleteWon't you join us for a fun challenge?
http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2012/01/word-with-laurie-nonsense.html
Oh, that made me laugh - and took me back.
ReplyDeleteLoved the schmear, and yes, the ending.
Have Mercy...we can all see you grumbling with that jar of mayonnaise...
ReplyDeleteFunny!
Blessings
R
fantastic write, kitchen's of the past are filled with great memories
ReplyDeleteNow you have me thinking about peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I haven't had that for years! Ooh, and a little maple syrup...
ReplyDeleteThe ending leaves me reeling. Unexpected,intense! Thank you for jamming with Poetry Jam this week.
ReplyDeleteMy dad's banana sandwiches had mayo on one side & peanut butter dotted with raisins on the other. VERY yummy :)
ReplyDeleteLOL -- your poor dad!
ReplyDeleteAh, bless your heart! Were you angry every single day? Were you never resigned?
ReplyDeleteI was a teenager Nance - what do you think? Ha! Actually, I looked on it as a challenge - every day I thought "this could be the day!"
ReplyDeletePriceless ... I felt like an intruder in your kitchen reading this.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! ha ha I'm sure you would love to pack his lunch now and you would do it lovingly. ... teenagers! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to be so late, but I'm glad I didn't miss this.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the bull's-eye, Bug.