The News

To the screen we look,
Consuming the fast food
Of news and media’s
Rumour fat fact.

We’re obese on it.
It’s thick in our blood,
Congealed arterial,
Congealed – congested.

If you asked us to change,
Try a different diet
– Thoughts healthy and positive –
We’d agree to affirmation

Then tiptoe in the secret night
To feast on 24 hour rolling junk.
We’d munch like we’re addicted
And smile the innocent lie

Each light day, remaining unchanged
As we had intended. Our need to live
In fear, the foodstuff from which our lives
Spread out in concentric rings.

© Ben Truesdale and distilledvoice, 2015

Old Butcher

Unafraid of the white
Rind
Of sweet fat
Wound around the ham joint,
He cuts a handsome slice,
Layers it against a wedge of cheese
And closes the well buttered bun,
Offering it
Like it was a generous food,
As rich and fulfilling
As cream atop the milk
And the wheat’s
Golden milling
To finest workable powder.

He will die a good death
Before his mind
Thinks these precious gifts
Are otherwise
Or contra to
The land’s harvest
And man’s festival
In receiving its pleasure
And its goodness.

© Ben Truesdale and distilledvoice, 2015