Let’s Meet in a Restaurant by Marge Piercy

Let’s Meet in a Restaurant

Is food the enemy?

Giving a dinner party has become

an ordeal. I lie awake the night

before figuring how to produce

a feast that is vegan, gluten free,

macrobiotic, avoiding all acidic

fruit and tomatoes, wine, all nuts,

low carb and still edible

Are beetles okay for vegans?

Probably not. Forget chocolate

ants or fried grasshoppers.

Now my brains are cooked.

Finally seven o’clock arrives

and I produce the perfect meal.

At each plate for supper, a bowl

of cleanly washed pebbles. Enjoy!