Eating healthy
==============

* Mary V. Seeman

I cook a meal of rage and rue,  
</br> A mix of existential stew.  
</br> It binds my stomach in a knot,  
</br> All my innards feel like rot.  
</br>  

I bake a cake of hope and mirth,  
</br> Sweetest taste there is on earth.  
</br> I can eat it all year round  
</br> And never ever gain a pound.  
</br>  

I prepare some envy greens,  
</br> Gussied up with bitter beans.  
</br> Eaten with nostalgic buns,  
</br> It produces awful runs.  
</br>  

I brew a tea of giggling glee,  
</br> Serve it up resentment-free.  
</br> I feel my neck and back unwind.  
</br> I feel quite warm toward mankind.  
</br>  

I toast a bread of guilt and tears,  
</br> Spread it thick with jam of fears.  
</br> After I have had one bite,  
</br> I am paralyzed with fright.  
</br>  

I broil a steak of “laugh it off,”  
</br> Tender as beef stroganoff,  
</br> Spice it with forgive, forget.  
</br> Amazing how relaxed I get.  
</br>  

I make an omelette out of shame,  
</br> Pepper it with bits of blame  
</br> Aimed at everyone in turn.  
</br> My stomach starts at once to churn.  
</br>  

I make a soup of gratitude,  
</br> Free of pose and attitude,  
</br> Free of who is right or wrong.  
</br> Two, three sips and I feel strong.  
</br>  

I eat what's left of last year's lust,  
</br> Wrapped in hardened crumbling crust.  
</br> I start shaking, as with chill.  
</br> These leftovers make me ill.  
</br>  

I make dessert of doomed defeat,  
</br> Then I put it on to heat.  
</br> The smell alone can make you sick;  
</br> I throw it in the garbage, quick.  
</br>  

I cook dinner for my dear.  
</br> Hors d'oeuvre of joy, entree of cheer.  
</br> We both feel healthier at the end.  
</br> That's the way to keep a friend.  
</br>  

![Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/169/12/1322/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/169/12/1322/F1)

Figure. Photo by: Alan King

![Figure2](http://www.cmaj.ca/https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/169/12/1322/F2.medium.gif)

[Figure2](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/169/12/1322/F2)

Figure. Photo by: Alan King

![Figure3](http://www.cmaj.ca/https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/169/12/1322/F3.medium.gif)

[Figure3](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/169/12/1322/F3)

Figure. Photo by: Alan King