Mark Toney Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

Eat the Rest

When I was coming up
momma and daddy both said
"Finish your plate, son.  Eat the rest!"
More often than not there'd be something
I didn't like, or didn't like enough
and momma or daddy one would say
"Finish your plate.  Eat the rest!"
I'd eat a little more, ask to be excused,
momma or daddy see my remnants
"Eat the rest, child!  Eat the rest!"
I'd eat a bit more. "May I be excused?"
"Listen to me, boy, you best eat the rest!"
So I'd sit there, pitiful like, and eat the rest.

Reflecting on this, I am keenly aware
proponents on both sides argue 'beware!’
Forcing a child always to finish their plate
can lead to obesity's worrisome fate
But letting them stop whenever they want
selfishly teaches life's lessons to flaunt
It doesn't matter which side you're on
I'll agree with you so let's move on
There's a deeper darker side to this
that I need to mention lest I be remiss
After year's of being told to eat the rest
is it possible I actually consumed "my rest"?

The rest I seek when I try to take a nap
The rest I pursue when I wear my CPAP
The rest that eludes me at work or at play
The question my wife asks me every day:

"Were you able to get any rest?"

No, dear.  When I was a kid, I was forced to
finish my plate and eat the rest, so there's
none to be found.  I done ate it all.






8/4/2020

The ramblings of a man raised by a momma from the South and a daddy from the North ;)

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Barbara Barry-Nishanian February 16, 2021 at 4:13 AM Mark, I'd feed as much as my dog liked under the table. // Very cute didn't know you were on a CPAP too, now on BIPAP Mark Toney February 26, 2021 at 9:34 AM Lol ... Thank you, Barbara!

Paula Goldsmith August 12, 2020 at 12:17 PM Love it. Yes, "Finish your plate" was said many times. The questions was, what if you hated the food???? Never could get an answer to that. Many meals I did not eat because I hated the food. Went hungry many days. How do kids make it through?????? Oh well, that is life. Have a great day writing away.......... Mark Toney August 12, 2020 at 2:52 PM Thanks, Paula. Great comment. Looks like we’re in the same boat :) ~Mark

John Hamilton August 5, 2020 at 7:25 AM Cute story Mark, I was told to finish the plate as well because kids in Biafra didn't have any food, so I said can I send it to them? It didn't work. Seems we are in the same boat I too suffer insomnia and use a cpap machine. Age catches all of us before we even realize it. Mark Toney August 5, 2020 at 11:22 AM My silly “cute” story with a thread of reality running through it. John, thanks for your candid confirmation that I’m not the only one! ~Mark