What Is Life Without Our Food? Poem by Reginald Reid

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Consider food.

The fuel of life? Nay
Much more than that I dare to say.

Delivering far more than that
A host of textures, tastes and fat.

Aromas, tastes, host memories.
Fruits of labour not only trees.

Expectant, read the recipes salivating
At prospects of masticating.

Chewy, hot and cold,
Or soft for when we are old.

Sweet or sour,
Snacking, grazing every hour.

Salted, peppered, chilli hot.
Slow cooked in seasoned earthen pot.

Spiced in curry styled best dishes
Delighting all our wishes.

Comforting to bereaved who sing.
A banquet at the dead's bell ring.

A celebration, a new creation.
Something to emulate, degustation.

A love experience, a thing of beauty.
Exotic, erotic, prepared as duty.

A new experience always sought.
Someone else's fare is bought.

Vegetarians eat no beasts.
Complicated menus set for feasts.

Guilt and pleasure,
Self indulgence without measure.

Obesity is epidemic
Competing with the anorexic.
./2

The rich have much, enough to waste.
Landfill gas produced, increasing pace.

The starving bloated as if overeating.
Too weak to speak, consigned to bleating.

What sets us high above all creatures?
The few can feed the many, say the teachers.

We die for it so we may live.
We keep our store full, but scarcely give.

The hands of a few seek supply control,
Denying access to the great food bowl.

And shall the powerful also differ about who owns the mighty rivers?

Who owns the water to grow the food and wash it to our livers?