We placed an order for leg of lamb—out of stock
We ordered rib of eye–out of stock
We adjusted to chicken thighs or breast–none
Then give us whatever you have left
We pillaged the produce pages
Discovered only blanks
Dairy–out of stock
Could we live on bread alone
The last loaf was sold a month ago
We went into our yard
And rooted for potatoes
Ate them one by one
And when there were none
We offered our flesh
To our daughters and sons
Note: In ancient Europe it was believed that the pelican would cut its breast open with its beak and feed its young with its own blood if there was not enough food, even though pelicans don’t actually do that (The Westologist).
Submitted by Barbara MacKay, Mendocino County – Little River.