A tiny boy of three scales the high fence
of his backyard prison
dodges the horseless carriages on the avenue
slips into Grandma’s backyard
presses his nose to the kitchen’s screen door
Uncle Ed closes his eyes
breathes in
his earliest memory
fresh baked bread
strawberry jam
Nana’s warm hugs.
He exhales the years away
For the last time in his life
he’s a child again
Richard M. O’Donnell‘s works have appeared in Every Day Fiction, Sniplits, North Coast Review, Binaryorganic, Mind Fair, Kaleidoscope, Heartlands, Many Voices, The Gamut, Diskazine, The Alchemist, Telescope, Intro and The Plum Creek Review. His short story collection, Rice Wine, was published on Disk 1983, and he has received two Ohio Arts Council grants. His has a MFA from BGSU. He is the co-founder of The Oberlin Writers Group where he is working on a mystery novel, Measure Twice — Cut Once. His online publication links can be accessed at www.wormsview.com.
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10 Responses to “FRESH BAKED BREAD • by Richard M. O’Donnell”
Comments
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July 5th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Sad, but at the same time uplifting.
July 5th, 2009 at 12:30 am
very nice
July 5th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Mmmm… lovely.
July 5th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Such detailed description of the solitary thoughts of the dying is not convincing, unless of course, something has been invented since.
July 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Five from me for this lovely slice of remembrance!
July 5th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Very sweet but not sappy. Liked it.
July 6th, 2009 at 4:06 am
There’s nothing like that smell.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:01 am
This is sweet.
July 6th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:22 am
This one was my call and I put it there for my birthday. Thank you. A slice of warmth and home and remembrance.