Fat January (Draft 2)
Reindeer long gone with parties and tomfoolery
she basted sorrow to stuff year’s ridicule
into the geese and carols required; persevering
with gluttony and stuffing yuletide
she watched the fireworks
flare out in explosive desire
seems a New Year can be,
she sang to the choir, heavy
like pounding hearts teased
unattractive and fat
needing a loss
so she hired the whipping cream boy
who she found curled up in the street.
Unlike the physical trainer, he
didn’t charge her much, spouted
a little poetry and conversation, though
he just demanded to follow along
to her every breakfast,
lunch, and dinner
And upon his demand
he ate off her plate
took her desserts away
stuck his fork and knife
into her over-sized plate
as she ordered her usual indulgences
and he was so hungry to talk like a seminar
that he’d eat what food she couldn’t resist
as if it were charming morsels of thought, and
let her feel saintly to help the beggar assist
but she upgraded his wardrobe
to escort her to any dinner, and it
let her feel saintly to help the beggar assist
though actually,
she loved his words, and
his charm resolved itself into
a love of life and of her
but with a kiss
her prince of the gutter did
have a beautiful, grateful smile
when he died very fat
of a heart attack.
— Douglas Gilbert
