Hungrily, I grope through the portion-sized
possibilities in our refrigerator
pushing past cooked remnants for edible
orange, red and dark and light green
aware that the minutes are ticking down
to departure and that my arm is cold,
numb, disappointed.
It wants something new
and nutritious, locally grown and safe—
No—not safe—daring and untried—ready,
restless, ignored, un-used, remarkably
willing to feed and lead we hungry for
systematic change. If taste buds dare try
systematic change. If taste buds dare try
and swallowing follows, stomach and veins
and heart will lay down their bars and their chains.
Posted for my prompt
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Exploring
Copyright © 2014 S.L.Chast
enjoyed this humorous take Susan...the journey becomes quite intriguing when the desire oscillates between safety and daring, untried....the first two lines are simply delicious :)
ReplyDeleteIt is funny! Which I didn't know until you said so because I was writing an analogy for finding new methods to combat racism! I added the picture of the book I've been reading, but I'll have to decide whether to add context to the poem or to let it be what it is. Thank you, Suman Roy.
DeleteI will never look at my fridge in the same way again....thank you Susan... Although I suspect I need to tidy up the unhealthy bits of that particular exploration ;)
ReplyDeleteFor as many years as I can remember, my motto has been, "If not now, when?" It is my philosophy and indeed keeps me realizing that if I do not DO something today, when will I take the risk and do it? You're right...we can't always just do the safe thing, but must be willing to adventure - either when it comes to the world of food or the world at large. Our taste buds will thank us!
ReplyDeleteI resonate with the fruitless search through my (pathetic) refrigerator which screams GO TO THE STORE, GET SOMETHING MORE. Hee hee. I did pick up your intended meaning in your closing lines, so it totally works as it is......"we hungry for systemic change". Are we ever! And then some.
ReplyDeleteI resonate with the fruitless search through my (pathetic) refrigerator which screams GO TO THE STORE, GET SOMETHING MORE. Hee hee. I did pick up your intended meaning in your closing lines, so it totally works as it is......"we hungry for systemic change". Are we ever! And then some.
ReplyDelete"we hungry for
ReplyDeletesystematic change. If taste buds dare try
and swallowing follows, stomach and veins
and heart will lay down their bars and their chains." Beautiful and poignant lines...! You couldn't have said it better, Susan. Oh, simple things that we tend to forget..I am blessed with rational companions. Thank you for an excellent read.
We may well discover something tasty and satisfying in the fridge' if it has been stocked there in the first place' and then allow the taste buds to sense all the pleasure but then -what is beyond the taste' ? There lies the rub'
ReplyDelete'Change does come as it is ordained' but it should be 'change for the better' again a poem reflecting your dramatic skill and talent-one follows the action and feels excited....I think I see more green in the fridge...
How often we all must have looked in our fridge with disappointment that it had failed us again, unwilling even to take the blame.
ReplyDeletemany of hte same feelings are still around...much of it goes unnoticed...the incarceration rates...the turn against imigrants...you should have heard some of the conversations today in conservativeville after the supreme court ruling...
ReplyDeleteYou draw a great contrast between "same ole" and "charge."
ReplyDeleteIn any situation there has to be risk.
You give the reader the look into the everyday so he too can relate.
I want to try something new and daring to eat now ~ But perhaps you are also alluding to testing new boundaries and wanting for change to come ~
ReplyDeleteI love how eating fresh and local is rebellious. It says a lot about our culture.
ReplyDeleteI like fridge poems Not quiet as good as your lawnmower one but that was obviously inspired. Playing it safe and not taking risks is placing shackles and limits on yourself although in the food dept. I would fall into that category particularly having spent a lot of time in the third world.
ReplyDeleteA different perspective.. wonderfully done ..:-)
ReplyDeleteIf taste buds dare try
ReplyDeleteand swallowing follows, stomach and veins
and heart will lay down their bars and their chains
True enough! If only we are brave enough in our endeavors things will turn out easier! Great write Susan!
Hank
ha ha...that's delightful!!
ReplyDeletewise are those who dare to find out and break the bars and chains..good one Susan
ReplyDelete