Beetlebung and Kettlehole--April Poems

Liquid Diet

her contours vanish now
well, almost,
in her loose-fitting gown
and frail body
for she sleeps constantly
after her vacation
in the Caribbean
where she felt like a whale

it is as if a piranha struck
then, without her noticing
yet no fish is to blame
for the shame of a liquid diet
so I bake bread to take
to her, thinking maybe
it will help, maybe
she won’t stop breathing

==

April 22--bread