Eating By Color

i sit in my usual spot,

java hot,

a plate of something

steaming next to me.

recreational eating.

a matter

to defray boredom.

i watch you silently

as you pile

more food on your junior sized plate

than you can possibly carry

back to your table,

lip tucked between teeth

brow furrowed

carefully balancing your treasure.

if we cooked by color,

your plate would be a winner;

corn next to fries

topped with catsup spilling over the side.

your mom studiously adds some carrots.

you frown at them

and to be honest

they don't look very good,

some kind of reconstituted, frozen

pretend-to-be food item.

you push over your your fries

make room for a hot dog-

just the dog.

you try to put the bun back on the table

but catch your mom glaring at you

so you let it go sliding down

into the trough you have made for it.

i know you will leave the bun on your plate uneaten,

carrots too--

with no word spoken

just a frown

as you consider them there on your plate,

or maybe not.

copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2014