WHEN THE CAKE BATTER MATTERED

WHEN THE CAKE BATTER MATTERED(L DOUGLAS ST OURS) WHEN THE CAKE BATTER MATTERED

The kitchen counter was a bit higher than our noses
but our eyes could see the treat that
we never got tired of anticipating
we gathered like take your pick
whimpering wolves,
pandering puppies,
cajoling cats,
howling hounddogs,
virtual vultures
salivating for the chance to taste mom's raw cake batter...an incomparable delight
after adding, stirring, mixing, and pouring the batter into baking pans primed for sliding into the oven
we knew our turn was coming...to prevent fratricide she'd divide the spoils between her three eager sons
one would get the spoon
...one would get the mixers
...and the luckiest got the bowl
we'd finger and tongue them like buzzards stripping flesh from bone
we didn't get much when we were very young
except mom baking her from scratch homemade cakes
but that was enough to have paradise in a poor house
where dad was watching every dime.

by L DOUGLAS ST OURS
September 2010