Life’s a Feast is a food poem, imagining life as a dish with many, many ingredients and flavours, some edible, some nauseating.

Life’s a Feast – Food Poem

Sometimes I swallow dry air, my gums / an arid field 
 ploughed, ploughed and weeded, 
 rich harvest upon potato blight and ice 
 home to a fox and a mouse who
 quarrel, quarrel and love, 
 pitch kisses upon filterless fights and spice. 
 
Sometimes, I gulp sweet wine, my belly / a purring cat 
 spoiled, spoiled and caressed, 
 plump tunes upon rhythms so slight and nice 
 home to a crow and a rat who
 chatter, chatter and probe, 
 pump trump cards upon bluffs and vice. 
 
Sometimes, I suck grainy salt, my skin / a frozen lake
 skated, skated and polished, 
 itchy scrapes upon rippleless flights and paradise
 home to a cat and a dog who
 bargain, bargain and love, 
 fling strokes upon meatballs and sacrifice. 
 
Sometimes, I savour hot milk, my bones a towering tree
 pushed, pushed and gladdened, 
 strict pruning upon green foliage, 
 home to a bird and a bee who 
 scale and swarm and love, 
 swallow thick syrup upon clear water and life in a slice.