Thursday, 1 April 2021

À la carte

 

The recipe of my body

offers itself in plain sight.

Brailled descriptions of everyday agonies

blotted across a sweaty foam mat.

More heat-spots on a radar 

than zodiac signs.


Come evening, the stock is ready.

Churned with every jolt my body could hold.

Push-ups, the perfect strain

to melt muffin tops at room temperature.


Meanwhile hamstrings revolt 

against every squat.

The stomach squirms 

detesting every 

single

plank.

Eight more seconds to go.

But your mind is already blank.

Until a high-pitched beep finally allows my legs to bow.


Perspiration tickles. 

Instructors forget to mention that

or of softer skin

or of dried-out lips

or of snapping hips.

Instead, all focus turns to presentation

of staggering towards a mirror

on twitching thighs.

Pacing your breath (A short supply)

to spend it flexing, absurdly expecting

a magnum opus, a plat du jour,

SOMETHING to offer respite.

Tough luck though. No two-by-three portions tonight.


The above poem is for the NaPoWriMo2021. Day 1 Prompt: Recipe

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