.
.
furo_felix (istock)/courtesy of Robert Miner
.
.
Strawberry-rhubarb Pie
Looking a little sad and alone in an upper bin of the produce section – a handful of red celery-like stalks of rhubarb. They are still crisp – not yet wilted by the soft terror of avoidance too often rhubarb’s after life. Every May, near what would have been my mother-in-law’s birthday, I watch for its appearance. We were united against the rest of the family in our love for the tart bite of rhubarb and in our conspiracy to inflict its sourness on the dinner table once per year. I throw strawberries in my cart and head home to bake in her memory. Mixing rhubarb and just enough strawberries together with sugar, a bit of flour, cornstarch, a pinch of salt and a drop of vanilla extract, I pour the mixture into a pie crust and drop butter slices on top. “Everyday (I Have the Blues)” from Count Basie Swings/Joe Williams Sings bursts from the stereo – one of her favorites. I can picture her smile and begin to move in her seat as the Basie horns hit their astringent opening and then the rich and buttery Joe Williams kicks off. Everyday, everyday I have the blues. Working in time with the music, I patiently begin to weave the lattice crust for the pie – always a lattice crust – folding the strips of dough back and weaving in the next strip. A little egg wash for a golden color on the crust and a sprinkle of turbinado sugar. Joe Williams digs low in a growl midway and then a sweet sustained high note as the song nears its end. Later, a forkful of sticky sweet and sour pie – you preferred yours without ice cream –raised in your honored memory and our conspiracy of affection.
.
.
The poet’s mother-in-law, Jean Kessinger
.
.
___
.
.
Robert Miner is a former political consultant and a lifelong jazz fan. His work has previously appeared in Jerry Jazz Musician, as well as Acropolis Journal, Carmina Magazine, The Dewdrop, The Ekphrastic Review, The Field Guide to Poetry, Ribbons, Laurels, On-the-High Literary Journal, On the Run Fiction and more. Follow him @robertminerpoetry on Instagram.
.
.
Listen to the 1955 recording of the Count Basie Orchestra (with Joe Williams) performing Peter Chatman’s composition “Every Day I Have the Blues” [Universal Music Group]
.
.
___
.
.
Click for:
More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician
“Bluesette,” Salvatore Difalco’s winning story in the 67th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
Information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
Subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter
Helping to support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)
.
___
.
.
Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced (and AI-free) since 1999
.
.
.
