By Anna Kander
dear, delicious reader—
imagine life guided by instruction books
or two-minute YouTube videos about cooking
pour yourself into the mix
stretch laughter like gooey cheese
in love, melt like chocolate
i have measured words for you
and baked them into poems—
a girl grows up
loses her brother
meets the wrong teacher
remakes herself,
adding new ingredients
cold-pressed oils and grilled fish with scales
are not the only surfaces that shine like mirrors
ink reflects, too
with love,
anna
—
Anna Kander is a writer in the Midwest. “Dear Reader” is a preface to her first book of poetry, currently under consideration by publishers. Kander’s poems (about a girl, her brother, and her teacher) are published or forthcoming in several journals, including Star*Line, Leveler, and Train. Find more at http://annakander.com.
