Sustenance

Friday,
the graying man
inhaled deeply
from an oxygen tank
stowed in his grocery cart.
He foraged aisles,
fingered loaves of whole-grain bread,
lifted organic honey to light,
weighed health benefits of skim milk
versus boyhood love of whole,
pondered antioxidant content
in Concord grape juice.

He checked every needful thing
to sate hunger and thirst,
preserve breath and flesh another hour.

Today,
tank at his feet,
he listens to the teacher
share words from John —
pores over columned pages,
traces text with forefinger,
lingers on living bread
silently chews it over.
Breathing in,
he lifts illuminated eyes,
raises his hand
to join the feast.









Contest/publish records:
http://apoetinzion.blogspot.com, 9/21/2012