table

the healthy ones

are always telling us to slow down

and set a table for ourselves. To use a knife

and a fork and a napkin

to pause

between

            bites

                        and taste.

we know how to set places for our loved ones next to us

make space for each other

to nourish cells and sinew

to link ourselves with those golden threads

ideas and insight, laughter and longings

sounds simple.

meanwhile

the world claws scrapes gnaws us raw

crushing squeezing snacking on us

like a merry and terrible monster who craves the gaze of worried eyes

refusing to be ignored.

we must know the monster and the sneaky reach of its tentacles

but we must choose tomatoes and bacon and

good crusty bread

and

tell me what happened to you today

let the beast roar outside our door

for now

we are at the table

VG - July 2022