Synkroniciti is thrilled to welcome back California poet and photographer Jonathan Yungkans, whose work has been a vibrant part of our community for more than seven years. A multi‑contest winner in poetry, flash, and cover art, Jonathan brings his signature blend of humor, tenderness, and imaginative reach to “Jersey Mike’s finally did the impossible.” This whimsical poem threads together Star Trek, chicken salad sandwiches, and family memory, revealing how the smallest cravings can become lifelong quests.
“someone/ finally made the chicken salad sandwich/ I can/ imagine Captain Kirk/ looking forward to/ in that episode/ of Star Trek about the tribbles”
He confesses his mother never made chicken salad sandwiches, contributing to a childhood curiosity that grew into an almost mythic pursuit. He recalls a standout version from Marie Callender’s, a taste he has tried to recreate ever since to no avail, despite being an excellent cook. That elusive sandwich became a touchstone, a flavor tied to imagination, nostalgia, and a comfortable memory of family.
In Jonathan’s telling, the chicken salad sandwich from Jersey Mike’s becomes more than a meal. It’s a portal back to childhood wonder and a relaxed moment in front of the television with family, engrossed in the story rather than their own lives, enjoying unexpected connection. Jonathan reminds us that the stories we absorb as children, whether from family kitchens or from tribble‑infested starships, continue to guide us in subtle, surprising ways.
Read “Jersey Mike’s finally did the impossible” in Synkroniciti’s Expectations, Vol. 8, No. 2, available here: https://synkroniciti.com/the-magazine/purchase-individual-issues/
Jonathan Yungkans continues to type in the middle of the night amid owls and coyotes, happy when his writing is less noxious than the occasional passing skunk. He has written three poetry chapbooks, one e-mini-chapbook of short verse, and his full-length volume of selected poems, Borrowed from Heaven,was released by MacQ Books in June 2026.