Flyer

                    I
I see by the A&P flyer
That Passover foods are a feature
Am I the only Westchester creature
Who doesn’t post a calendar
Alongside his refrigerator
What a shock to my delicate nature
For holidays to burst upon the nation
In the midst of my disorientation

I’m a boat torn from its moorings
A pigeon whose cage has been hidden
A Muslim with no sense of direction
If indeed Passover is cooking
Why then Ramadan has gone wanting
And Easter verges on rising

                      II
When the gods have left the field
And calendars have their pages sealed
When celebration like menstruation
Bows to change of life
And a bored world surrenders
Theology to euthanasia

Then oh A&P oh Winn-Dixie
Oh Ralph’s oh H.E.B.
Oh Stop and Shop oh Giant Food
Oh Safeway oh Grand Union
What ungodly but delicious specials
Will in your luscious flyers brood
Absent occasion to inspire your milky pleadings
Such as Season’s Greetings and similar poop

3/17-3/23, 7/16-7/25/96,  6/13/07, 2/10/08

Copyright 1996, 2008 by Maurice Leiter

Posted with permission.