The Great Food Panic of 2020, Part 3
On we go past soda, powder
Crusts and icing, filling, pudding
Evaporated milk and extracts
Color, sprinkles, flakes and what's that?
Jars and boxes, pans, wax paper
Jell-O, yellow gelatin and chocolate
Cakes and cornbread, brownies, muffins
Stuff that's made for stomach stuffin'
But we pass them by and thunder
Down the aisle toward our quarry
Dough in hand and mind, imagination pulsing
Panting, hungry pulses racing
Closing to the shelf that's labeled
Microorganism fabled
Single cell meets single-minded
Suddenly from side we're blinded…
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On the shelf above the paper stating, "Please be kind and taper
Wants to needs and basket only what you need and don't leave lonely
Hearts and minds who're seeking solace
With their dough still in their wallets
Hoarding what is not now needed, just take one, with you we're pleading
"Just in case" is not good reason storing up foodstuff and season
Taking all you see before you, just take one, we now implore you
If we all use common courtesy, we'll all get through this most surely
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But above the shelf and warning there beyond the pastry icing
Empty space and yawning chasm, depth beyond imagination
Spasms of the darkest horror, wracked with rising indignation
Yeast was not there to be found it was not bought and most confounding
Left us shuffling sadly door bound without needed 'gredient in hand
Sour outlook, sour mood, needing one thing for the food which
Must be had for toast or sandwich, avocado, cheese, or Manwich
Leaving us to pine and suffer, relegated for our supper
Dough in wallet, hand on heart
Sourdough must be our part
Copyright © John Stetson | Year Posted 2025
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