Thought Menu

 

An hour before breakfast

I thought of omelette piping hot

oozing sun-yellow cheese

With butter-dripping toast

And sweet cumquat marmalade —

 

Instead, I ate tasteless cereal

Drenched with sourish milk.

 

An hour before lunch

I thought of a hamburger

Succulent meat patty

And softy spongy bun

with the works —

Sweet beetroot and ripe tomato

Caramelised onion rings and crispy lettuce

Tangy sauce and juices

trickling down my fingers.

 

Instead I ate crackers and

A tart green apple.

 

An hour before dinner

I thought of succulent hot chops

Drenched with mint jelly

And French fries

golden-brown and salty.

 

What I ate was

Tinned spaghetti

On dry toast.

 

Nothing I tasted all day

Was as delicious

As my thoughts.

Dianne Bates

• Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #6