A bulging stomachful
of high calorie vitriol.
Tables bowing under the weight of envy,
like too many books on a shelf.
Tables laden with too much, too much
disgust for others.
The high fat content of hate,
an overindulgence of anger
within the fare.
No restrictions,
the gobbling of swill,
sour, composed of trash talk.
The slurping of suggestion,
without fact.
perhaps implying “Somebody” said”,
or thinking it coy to add, “If it’s true,”
at the end of each unsubstantiated statement.
A regular fare
of amusement and surprise,
again without certitude.
Minds and hearts nourished by exaggeration,
loving the taste of scuttlebutt,
licking up the drips of innuendo.
The greediness of fiction,
that although lighter,
still weighs down the grapevine.
A newly reformed person’s regimen
of admiration and interest.
Energy units utilized to see
the vibrancy of life and of others.
Now, watching one’s weight,
burning off what does not belong on the body,
with the exercise of being grateful.
Careful with what gets put in the mouth
(or the ear)
and what comes out of the mouth.
Fat free of gossip and tattling! So slender!
So confident in the abstinence
of deep-fried jealousy.
An appetite for awe,
slimming the body
and lightening the heart.
A thirst for trust,
a mouthful of adoration,
nourishment for the soul.
Linda Imbler is the author of six poetry collections. Since writing her first poem five years ago, her poetry and short stories have been published in numerous journals. In addition to putting pen and paper to inventive use, Linda is an avid reader and budding illustrator. This writer, yoga practitioner, and classical guitar player lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband, Mike the Luthier, several quite intelligent saltwater fish, and an ever-growing family of gorgeous guitars. More information can be found at lindaspoetryblog.blogspot.com.