A KIND OF FOOD

Banana is the food of charities
always on the table in plastic bowls

day old, week old, blackened,
the dried up stems curled like nuns'

arthritic fingers, eternal crooks.
I hate them. All prisons, half-way

houses, old folks homes, orphanages
and every kind of sacred loony bin

is swamped in the do-good
banana stench and that's how

we will know each other
when we meet in the real world

someday—the post office, supermarket,
cleaners—by the lingering odor

oozing under our skin, old oily shame.

Institutional Banana Bread (makes 4 shameful loaves)

1 lb, 10 Oz Sugar
10 Oz Fat
5 Eggs
1 lb, 10 Oz (black, institutional) Bananas
3/4 C Milk
2 Lbs Flour
2 Tsp Salt
4 T Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Soda
8 Oz Chopped Nuts

Procedure:

1. Cream fat and sugar 5 minutes at medium speed.
2. Add eggs, beat 2 minutes.
3. Add bananas, beat 1 minute.
4. Add milk, dry ingredients, and nuts.
5. Mix at low speed for 1 minute.
6. Divide batter into 4 greased loaf pans.
7. Let stand for 30 minutes.
8. Bake at 350 F for 50 minutes.