The man at the table across from mine
is eating yogurt. His eyes, following
each time it nears his face. Time,
and the world with all its principalities,
might come to an end as prophesied
by the Apostle John, but what about
this man, so completely present
to the little carton with its cool,
sweet food, which has caused no animal
to suffer, and which he is eating
with a pearl-white plastic spoon.
"Man Eating" by Jane Kenyon, from Collected Poems. © Graywolf Press, 2005.Photograph: Detail of an image by John Dowland (originally black and white).
I love this portrayal of complete presence. The idea that no animal had to suffer for this food is lovely--untrue for the realities of commercial dairy production, but lovely nonetheless.
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