Pot-luck

by Daniel Hess

I’m leaning, once again determinist
Digesting, once again a pot-luck meal
Maybe luck has missed or, doubly,
Demigods have doomed my paper plated will
Once again to wander through the line
Liturgically, mechanically making ill,
Illogical decisions. Fearing choice, blind
By the delusion of perfection, I mill
My uncommitted tray on past
Piles of well-wrought dishes: dill,
Deviled, scalloped, and so on. Vast
Vats of stewy protein tempt until
Unfortunately (I realize) they might take
Too much room on my tray, or spill
Sluice, slosh, or otherwise make
Mixtures unappetizing: slurry, swill,
Spoil the wake of pistachio pudding. Bread
Bodes well, but the butter looks chill,
Challenging to spread.
Sadly I have not the patience or skill
Surely these baked beans, I mean
I’m getting desperate. Once again, will
We be bound by luck or fate? Between
Both I wobble. Lol. It remains to be seen.

While often failing to find the right balance in time management and priorities, Daniel Hess delights in finding poetry in unexpected places and the joy of bringing it to life with words.

Photography by Keneth Godoy