Hungry Ghost has been the favorite bakery for many folks in and around Northampton for many years. In addition to the variety of delicious bakery items, the warm, welcoming and creative atmosphere of the bakery made it my personal favorite place to shop. Several years ago every bag of bread would contain a poem and then the owners offered a poetry contest around the theme of bakery and baked goods. I submitted a parody of a famous song and was lucky enough to win some incredible baked prizes.
Smell of Heaven
Hello bakery. my old friend
I’ve come to taste your bread again
Because an aroma gently seeping
Into my house while I was sleeping
And this aroma that was captured by my nose
I must suppose — it is the smell of heaven
In restless nights I dream of bread
A scrumptious sandwich in my bed
‘Neath the halo of your bakery sign
I see the Country Wheat that will be mine
When my gut is grabbed with the air of pure delight
That splits the night to give the smell of heaven
And in your window I can see
All those people ahead of me
People talking and salivating
People hungry but patiently waiting
People grasping bucks eager to be spent
And get the scent which is the smell of heaven
“Wow” said I “You really dig
A loaf of rye that’s really big
Take this slice that I will share with you
With jam or butter to show I care for you
Eat it up and don’t let one crumb drop
And do not stop till you sense the smell of heaven”
And the people bowed and paid
For the lovely bread you made
And the oven shared its warming
With the crowd that was forming
And the crowd said, “The words of the angels
Are written on the bakery walls”
And in the halls you can grok the smell of heaven
Stan Pollack
Florence