Short Saltines Poems

chemo waiting room
patients eat saltines
from a candy dish



Published in Bottle Rockets #42 2020

AP: Honorable Mention 2021

Posted on October 25, 2018...

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I met a mouse on his way to heaven.
He was pulling a red wagon full of saltine crackers.
Are those stolen? I asked him.
Zap! A hook came up, grabbed him, and threw him into Hell.
I felt guilty when I took a bite of one of the saltines,
And realized how stale it was....

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A stomach virus laid me out,
My husband down as well
And then we were surprised to hear
Somebody ring the bell.

Two bags delivered to our door
With Gatorade and soup,
Saltines and even Alka-Seltzer,
Quite a sickbed group.

Our son arranged to save the day
With Amazon – the Prime – 
To help recuperation
And give fodder for my rhyme!...

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Tree-finger enchantments
   Shimmer pedantic staccato;
Violinist plucked
   Long-tails, blue in snow,
      Bewitched no longer, frolic.
   Embrace Poseidon.
       Whisper labyrinths cool to the wake.
East, I see an oblong ship pirouette
    Charging from Olympus…on fire,
        Shadowy Everests migrate west;
    Crisped saltines crumbled by guilt
       Whose silent peaks rejoice:
How beautiful the clouds swim in sunrise sky. 


2/15/2017...

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I will entice him with my meatloaf topping
Which means a meatloaf underneath naturally.
Next to it will be nestled my other signature dish
Scalloped corn with onions, saltines, and mashed potatoes.

He will be knocked out of his chair by this woman’s comfort food.
Especially after he tastes my warm homemade bread with real butter.
No one can resist my hot triple chocolate brownies under vanilla ice cream.
He will be malleable now, agreeable to any ideas or opinions I have....

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