Afternoon Snack

Posted on 2024-04-02 by Bartholomew Barker

Just tall enough to see the stove top
I watch my mother fry baloney in a cast iron pan.
Staticky pops and sizzles fill the kitchen
alongside the primitive aroma of meat in fire.

Jittery with hunger and excitement,
I ask Mom not to slit the slice
and giggle when the center puffs
like a little meat sombrero.

Nothing describes my childhood better
than a sandwich of fried baloney,
American cheese, yellow mustard
on Wonder bread given to me

by a loving mother.

Today’s Poetry Prompt: Describe a childhood memory using poetic language.

For today’s prompt, we have our first two-for-Tuesday prompt: write a happy poem and/or write a sad poem.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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23 Responses to Afternoon Snack

  1. Kirsten Curcio's avatar Kirsten Curcio says:
    2024-04-02 at 20:47

    Very sweet, Bart. 😊 I love how you captured this moment.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Katie Frances Hartless's avatar K.F. Hartless says:
    2024-04-02 at 21:22

    I can smell it as I read it. Wonderful.

    Like

    Reply
  3. trE's avatar trE says:
    2024-04-02 at 22:27

    And now, I want a fried bologna (baloney) sandwich!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. A. Haze🌹's avatar Haze says:
    2024-04-02 at 23:24

    Mommy is such a treasure though. This melted my heart. Sweetly written!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2024-04-03 at 03:44

    Mine’s a bacon butty – white bread (which I don’t eat now) – bacon (which I don’t eat now) fried to a crisp – butter (which I don’t eat now) – and tomato ketchup which HURRAH! I still eat. 

    And the vital ingredient – my Mum making it for me.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2024-04-04 at 02:14

    Sweet memories.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. LuAnne Holder's avatar LuAnne Holder says:
    2024-04-04 at 11:32

    I remember those snacks!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Dawn Pisturino's avatar Dawn Pisturino says:
    2024-04-04 at 13:24

    Yes, I remember those days!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2024-04-07 at 07:06

    That’s a sweet memory well told.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2024-04-08 at 06:14

    You’re absolutely correct. Savory is the better word. I will pocket that away for next time.

    Liked by 1 person

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