ANOTHER ONE IN THE OVEN
(“Another One in the Oven” sample)
The great breads of memory
invest us with odd hallucinations:
the steam from a brick oven, the heat
of life melting in the back of my mouth,
yellow butter on a broken French loaf.
Hot red pickled banana peppers
chased by a crusty chunk
of peasant bread to conquer the fever
of an odd combination savoured by my grandfather
after he fled Napoli.
I have known some astounding breads in your belly,
and the way …