Down the main road in the middle of America,
There stands a testament to gastronomical glory:
The combination KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell.
A marvel of mealtime offerings!
Awe-inspired I stare up at the massive menu,
mouth watering, weighing the combos,
considering the six-piece chicken
with the personal sized pepperoni pizza
with the Crunchwrap Supreme with
the bubbling Baja Blast.
This chapel contains multitudes,
a haven for the hungry
open well after average operating hours,
captivating the salivating masses
under its magic spell:
The combination KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell.
And indeed, in times of triumph
and of terror alike,
I have found myself facing the front door
of such an establishment,
seeking a salve to soothe a deep set wound.
I go in with a rush of wind carrying my feet
like the rush of dopamine flowing from my brain
to my tongue and teeth,
this little treat touching the spot in my heart
I can only sate with soy oil and corn syrup
and saturated fats.
And I am aware
that this gross ode to gluttony
goes and spits in the eye
of everything I know:
Good health, whole food,
freeing folks from the shackles of capitalism
which fast food companies use and abuse
as a cash grab for the CEOs
while the cashier fears they’ll be evicted this year.
But here I stand,
a hypocrite with my hand
holding a bag bulging with heart-busting bliss,
a calorie bomb catering
to barbaric cravings.
And I am aware
that I must treat this body like a temple,
that I must fight for fairness,
that I must make my money work against the machine,
that I must try to break the chains of what always has been.
And yet I am aware
I am susceptible to sin,
To slovenliness, to sloth.
And slurping down a Mountain Dew I spit out:
I contain multitudes!
Even if they’re messy,
like spilling sauce all down my shirt.
Down the main road of middle America,
among the synagogues and mosques,
the churches, the community centers, and the meeting halls,
there stands the true sanctuary of the spirit
where the saints hold court sipping the sacral and saccharine wine
across from the sinners who stuff soft tacos and fries in their faces,
and we all feel as one in this place.
Let us raise our cups, let our hearts swell,
and cry out:
ALL HAIL THE COMBINATION KFC/PIZZA HUT/TACO BELL!
ALL HAIL THE COMBINATION KFC/PIZZA HUT/TACO BELL!
ALL HAIL THE COMBINATION KFC/PIZZA HUT/TACO BELL!
(September 16, 2024)