tomato
I used to pick them in my parents’ Iowa garden
we sliced them and put sugar on them
that made them delectable to me
tomato sauce
we used it on our Chef-boy-ar-dee boxed pizzas
it was all bubbly and sometimes burned my tongue
or the roof of my mouth
tomato
a term I used to hear applied to a young woman
meaning luscious, ripe, sexy,
this term originated in the twenties
when women began wearing form-fitted clothing
tomato
can mean marijuana
or a stupid act or a stupid person
I frankly have never heard tomato used either way
and I hope I never do
tomato
I love it hot, and I love it cold
it makes my chili delicious
I love adding slices to my grilled cheese sandwiches
What kind of pizza do you want?
I don’t want Dominos or Jacks or Pizza Hut.
My favorite pizza is vintage Chef-boy-Ar-dee
We used to fry up hamburger and make this greasy delight
It was so smeary red greasy, it fell apart in our hand
We had to use a fork, and the crust was delightful.
Making it from a box, seemed like making it from scratch.
I loved it so much, I dream of it sometimes.
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Chef Boy-Ar-Dee boxed pizza
If I had a dollar for every time I ate these two as a child
I could probably buy a desk, a computer, and a lava lamp
If it was not quite enough for all three, maybe I could buy a lava lamp
And beads to fit in my doorway, I do love that seventies look!
And a fake fur chair that yells my name in pink and orange
I would buy hip hugger bell bottoms if there is any extra money.
It is funny how certain foods take you right back to your childhood.
My husband and I cannot even look at a chicken pot pie.
When we were first married, we ate two chicken pot pies
And two frozen macaroni and cheese and half loaf of bread each
For the first two or three years, until our daughter could cook.