Canned Meat

Here is a link to my brand new poetry reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEeNcBC_mnM

Those silver cans of
government meat, set
on the table with a red
and white checkered
tablecloth.
An old yellow light hung
on a chain illuminating
the can of meat.
It tasted like flavorless
gum.
It seemed like a mish-mash
of byproducts that no one
else wanted.
Mom always tried to make
a casserole out of it, but no
amount of pasta or sauce
would fix that roadkill.

Mom hid the cans in the
trash.  Tried to bury it
beneath empty packages
of mushrooms and onion
skins.
I'd dig lightly, and there it
was.
That silver government can.
Shadows for dinner.

A silhouetted pig, cow, or
chicken, made a cameo
on the can.
They reminded me of those
horrid souvenirs from
Disneyland that hung
above the antique organ.
As a boy, I'd look up to see
one of my brothers or sisters
likeness splayed out on the
wall in a creepy silhouette of
horror.
Deathlike, dark, and final.

It was like they caught the animal
at the
last stand.
Death and then eaten.
I know that's why I'm
here.

Author's Note

On this latest you tube reading, I read from my upcoming books, Sleep Always Calls and Aluminum Cowboys Poems and Short Sories. Due soon on Amazon.

www.thomaswcase.com

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

“Shadows for dinner” a meaningful phrase…. you use strong words to show the paucity of food you had to eat…. digging in the garbage to see what was in the can…. you create those strong words to show us the meagerness the ugliness of what you had to withstand….. very dark, yet great writing
Warmly, B🌷🌷🌷

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Betty. Much appreciated.

[Betty Hermelee]

You are very welcome!😊
Warmly
B

[Jimmy Crapped Corn]

I still have spam nightmares

[Thomas W Case]

Lol. Thank you, my friend.

[John the Baptist]

When you've got nothing else, you can't be choosy. Hunger is the best sauce.

[Thomas W Case]

So very true.

[Vol]

Thomas,
Excellent complaint... Ole Charlie would be jealous...
Vol

[Thomas W Case]

Thanks, my friend.

[red93]

Marvellous Work Thomas - the sheer low grind of poverty. I have the impression as well that the help available for the disadvantaged in the States is considerably less than is available in the UK atm. Exceptional

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.