MRE

"What does MRE mean?"
The question came through,
scratchy, popping.
The connection was poor,
the storm had damaged,
and blown over cell phone towers.

Meal, Ready to Eat.
Printed in black letters.
Plastic, cardboard, foil.
Food that supports soldiers
on battlefields from Iraq to Afghanistan
fed Monica and her family after Katrina came.

I remember my first MRE.
A hot day in Texas, climbing walls,
swinging across water hazards,
marching miles with a pack.
Ravenous, I ate the entire contents.

I didn't know what an MRE was
until that day in boot camp,
and haven't eaten many since,
but I think to hurricane victims,
MRE meant food for life.