Chewing the Fat of the Land

A Contemporary Pantoum

Through tough layers of flesh

I have systems of blood and guts.

My organs do so much

I’m always moving.

I have systems of blood and guts,

Thick rivers and meaty creatures.

I’m always moving,

Even in my sleep.

Thick rivers and meaty creatures

Can’t survive without my touch.

Even in my sleep

They feed on each other.

Can’t survive without my touch,

Which reaches in from the natural world,

They feed on each other.

Even in death,

Which reaches in from the natural world,

My insides will pulse and eat.

Even in death,

I will live inside flesh.

I’m hungry all of the time,

Searching for mangos

Whose sweet tang syrup

Drips down my throat.