What the Healthy!
©May 15th, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
I am tired of all things healthy
All this narcissistic absorption
In one’s food, and one’s skin
And hair, and whatnot!
All this measuring of waist
And hip, and chest, such rot!
Bring me palak, rich and green
With chunks of fat paneer,
And rich, creamy malai kofta
With fat, puffy naans, soft
And lovingly formed by the pudgy
Hands of the Indian baker
Standing proudly, making bread
In full view of all who eat as if starving
Everyone shoveling food madly
Into chatter-filled mouths.
Not us, though.
Observe us at the Indian restaurant:
Silently, silently we eat, books before us,
Occasionally pausing to share
A word, a phrase, a passage.
Then, we plunge back into food –
Food rich in cream
Swimming in it, it seems,
Food filled with nuts and such,
And butter, and oil and much
That’s not good for us. Hurrah!
How come we glow with health, and life?
(Okay, with wider girths, perhaps?)
Bring me nice, fatty gulab jamun
Yes, and ice-cream too!
Splash ginger syrup on it ,
Plenty of sliced almonds
Pears and peaches and pistachios,
Yes, and melted chocolate,
And coconut flakes!
Let’s tuck in unhealthily, shall we?
Good. Feel waist expand
Let out a nice sigh.
A discreet burp.
Slug down some cool water.
Then, keel over.
Healthy is my middle name.
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Written in response to The Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: Healthy