poem of the day 09.10.08

bologna

the mother
and her daughter
are sharing bologna
out of a cellophane wrapper.
they are on the late night
train
and the daughter
is talking about all
the things she is going
to do
and be when she’s older.
the bologna they are eating
looks fatty and good,
but the mother
and her daughter
look a little beaten
by the day.
i am always hungry
so i put down
my book
and watch them eat,
hoping to christ
that something finally
works out
for her, me, you
for someone
in this world
other than
the usual suspects
who don’t know
bologna
but always have
bread
when they eat.