Hunger - Patricia Barber

Everything is food, everything is fair game.

The second it’s gone is the second I crave

more animal, vegetable, mineral feed,

more fodder, more fuel, more cake and ice cream.

In Scythia, where the pickings are slim,

I’m gorgeous and grateful it’s «in"to be thin.

Wan and pale, I court emaciation

in high style and endless mastication.

With cheekbones and ribs that tighten my skin,

wildly attractive and seductive as sin,

the closer you come, the more you want me,

the more you want, the more you want to be free.

There’s no slaking of thirst, no quenching of need,

and there’s never, ever enough to eat:

When the Gods get even They think of me

While you’re fast asleep to your bed I creep

As my breath you breathe as I give you a kiss

As I take my leave I leave you with this

As you wake so you dream of fish fowl and beef

And there’s never ever enough to eat

Where inherited wealth meets fine French cuisine

Where oodles of truffles and tarts and terrines

Where gavage is an art and foie gras is fatty

Where quail duck lamb sugar butter and spaghetti

There desire is infectious and fulfillment is lean

And there’s never ever enough to eat

does an ocean deny a river?

would a fire spurn the wood it craves

for heat?

like Narcissus and his lover

you can never have the other

you can never turn away

you can never lick the plate

clean

When the coffers are empty in lieu of defeat

I deal my daughter for camembert cheese

Here the story leaves me to my own device

As lips teeth tongue savor self sacrifice

And now the Hunter is prey and the Hungry are meat

And there’s never ever enough to eat