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Paul Cézanne, Still Life with Bread and Eggs, 1865 |
This month’s judge, Carole Croll, selected the poems that moved her and stayed with her after she read them. Angela Hoffman is a winner again.
Leaven For Her Soul
The
recipe seemed too overwhelming.
Others asked me if it was worth the time, the trouble
but a little bit of hope for the future is what I needed
in these uncertain and troubling times.
The
first day I fed her. She bubbled as I curated her wild side.
The next day, I fed her hunger again, gave her leaven for her soul
stretched her tender body, lifted her, folded her onto herself
over and over. At times I couldn’t help but squeeze her.
I allowed her plenty of time to rest, gave her time to rise.
I did my best to shape her, slipping under her rough edges
smoothing, soothing her, dusting her gently at first
then more profusely. I flipped her upside down, right side up
cupped my hands around her soft sides.
I covered her, warmed her, scored her down the middle
releasing her the burden of cracking open wide.
She faced the heat as I stood by her side.
I was so
proud of what she had become over time
proud of myself too. I had birthed two lovely loaves
of bread into the love-starved world—
one for me, one for you.
~ Angela Hoffman
“Leaven For Her Soul” was previously published in Lothlorien Poetry Journal on 4/8/23.
The judge selected this poem for first place, and commented that “This poem was the first one I read. It moved me deeply from the start and stayed with me through every reading. The language was beautiful and tender and I lived the experience of bread making along with the poet. I loved every word, every touch.”
Seasonal Breads
In my family the
seasons were defined by freshly baked bread
hot from the oven,aroma wafting from the kitchen island,
triggering memories of family, friends and special occasion gatherings.
For me, winter will always be associated with pumpernickel,
with its earthy rich bouquet of dark chocolate and coffee,
best eaten paired with Tilsit or Havarti cheese
Spring reminds me of zucchini banana bread with its tones
of cinnamon and comfort, spread with lemon honey butter or
slices of goat cheese with arugula.
Summer is forever associated with lemon poppy seed bread,
which releases a smokey fragrance with a slightly bittersweet brush
against the welcoming tongue, perhaps washed down with
sips of Earl Grey tea.
There can't be fall without pumpkin bread, which for me
will always be associated with the holidays, warmed apple cider,
family gatherings, my aproned Grandma cooking in the kitchen.
Each season has its tastes, textures, patterns and rhythms
that bring back memories of bread, season by season
throughout the year.
~ Peter A. Witt
The judge’s explanation for picking this poem as second place: “I loved the idea of marking the seasons with bread. The descriptions were superb; I could feel the seasons and taste the bread. I have one suggestion for the poet to consider…perhaps omit the last stanza. The poem stands well without it. It takes us away from the bread and repeats what was previously stated.”
Finally, the third place poem:
My Father Makes Bread in Sacramento
It’s
really marvelous
what they come up
with these days. Imagine
pouring all this stuff
into a bowl—you have
eggs and flour and such
and what do you call
it: sugar and yeast. It isn’t
much. Then you scrape
it all into the pan, close
the door and select
your crust—dark, medium
or light. It doesn’t matter
what you choose. The
loaves come out all right.
You can’t lose.
Someone told me about
these things. It’s an oven
sitting right here on the
counter. Can you believe it?
Go on, mix it up, then
turn it on. Watch. You’ll
see. It kneads the dough.
How does it know?
I never thought I’d live
to see the day I’d
bake a loaf of bread.
~ Karen Loeb
The judge’s comments: “This poem made me smile. It was uncomplicated, fun, and unique. No other poem spoke about a bread making machine.”
Thank you to everyone who entered the June Poetry Challenge. There were other excellent poems. Don’t be discouraged if you were not a winner this month. Just try again!
Bios:
Carole Croll has returned to her native Pennsylvania after an extended residence in the Chicago area. She is a former teacher of English Language Learners. She was a massage therapist as well. Her first collection of poetry, The Gift Forthcoming, was published in 2000. Her most recent book, A Hundred Pairs of Eyes, was published in 2021 by Kelsey Books. She has been awarded by The Nevada State Poetry Society, Poets and Patrons of Chicago, and The Illinois State Poetry Society.
Angela Hoffman’s poetry collections include Resurrection Lily and Olly Olly Oxen Free (Kelsay Books). She placed third in the WFOP Kay Saunders Memorial Emerging Poet in 2022. Her work is widely published. She has written a poem a day since the start of the pandemic.
Karen Loeb’s poems and stories have appeared recently in Big City Lit, Bramble, Thema, Foreign Literary Journal, and the anthology Hope is the Thing. A poem is forthcoming in Sangam. Her work has won both the fiction and poetry contests in Wisconsin People and Ideas. She was Eau Claire, Wisconsin writer-in-residence 2018-2020.
Peter A. Witt is a Texas poet, with poems appearing in online and print publications such as Bluebird Word, Verse-Virtual, Live Encounters. He also writes and publishes family history and is an avid birder and nature photographer.
© Wilda Morris. Each poet retains copyright on his or her own poem.
