school lunch

“fresh” bread rolls fill the thick, steamy air
waiting for what seems like hours to get watery slop
pointing to what I want, and trying not to gag from the nasty food

making room for people to fit, looking at my messy tray of food
remembering the smell of clean fresh air
hearing the plop noise of the lunch lady putting plate after plate of slop

thinking of this mornings breakfast and how it compares to this slop
can food smell this bad? can food taste this terrible? but food is food.. right?
typing my lunch code in, walking out of this metal cage, and gasping for cool air

slapping my tray down onto the table, seeing the thick air evaporate off of my plate, while the slop is devouring my utensils, waiting for a bite.


Gorzycki Middle School

7