Categories
2006-2010 Poems

“Behind That Smile”

A response to Fast Food Nation.

Cows, fattened by fodder made of feces,
grain and other livestock, are packed and stacked
in grubby cubbyholes before being whacked
and hacked into crimson chunks and pieces,
which are then rendered into cooking grease
or ground into Big Mac patties—quick snacks
of fatty plaque to cake digestive tracts,
to stuff guts ‘til they grow chubby or obese.

Despite his customers’ plumping concerns
(and waistlines), Ronald still shines his sanguine
smile, so sure that some people will swallow
the shit even if E. Coli returns
or if they learn that part of their cuisine
has come from beef fattened off crap and cows.