Today's poem is by Christy Ku

Monster Buffet
        "You will eat less than you desire and more than you deserve" — The Menu

I look like someone who has a lot of monsters.
Polite, well intentioned queues are
waiting for the buffet to open, holding warmed plates, cutlery armed,
napkined, belts loosened in anticipation.

They want a bite of monster—just a taste if you don't mind—
nicely cooked through, spiced exotically, bitter but in a good way
with a sweet final note.

They want to be suspended, breathless, eating.
Raise each forkful for 'witnessing,'
'hold space' between molar         and         molar before crunching in applause,
the exhalation of bellies filled with catharsis.

I serve flowers from the front garden, mushrooms from the basement,
offer a fish netted from forgotten depths.
They eat with porcelain politeness, lick their lips, stay seated.

Back when I wanted their love (or a commission) I fed them. Dug out portions of monster from
my bone marrow, cracked my breastbone, unzipped my muscles to slide
elbow deep, monster teeth ribboning my wrists,
washed my hands before plating, learn to stop bleeding before service.

Monster is no longer on offer. They shuffle to another establishment with similar decor,
ask what's on the menu. Pre-order monster anyway.

I want last orders to be a portion of mirrors.
The well-fed are so slow. They don't run like they've ever been hungry.

Tweet
Copyright © 2024 Christy Ku All rights reserved
from The Shore
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission