Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The Devil's Food

 
Chocolate Cake Dessert by huntlh 
* *  *
—Poetry by Ann Wehrman, Sacramento, CA
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy of Pixabay


CHOCOLATE CAKE

envision devil’s food cake
dense with whole wheat flour
dark cocoa, honey, olive oil
 
or carrot cake with walnuts or pineapple
tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting
favorites I perfected for years, cooking, eating
even now, writing about them
I immediately taste, smell, feel the texture
 
but living alone, I’d eat the whole cake
one lonely, guilty piece at a time
I haven’t baked in years
eliminating that temptation at least
 
someday, I will throw out that
box of long-expired almond, coconut flour
hoarded since my paleo diet period
still tucked in a corner of my fridge
 
when will I throw out
the battering ram in my mind
culture’s programming, all lies and twisted
be slim or ignored, alone
thin is beauty is power
sin of sexual glamour
 
 
 
 Kola Nut Offering, African Hands by 102Messamanos


ON THE TABLE

a burnt offering
a dark offering
a blind offering
a joyful offering
a thankful offering
an unselfish offering

In the end, who’s to say
my boss, my partner
St. Peter, God

an unsteady offering
passionate at times
then indifferent
even resentful
partial, weak offering

a desperate offering
a gentle offering
a humble offering
 
 
 
 Hallway Dorm Exit Door by Space Zandria


FRESHMAN YEAR

whispers through walls
girls present, long dead
angry words, envy, malice
no love in this forced encounter
temporary stopping place
cold, concrete walls seep dampness
thermostat locked down low
nights, I wake at 3:00 a.m. —cold, alone

daylight brings warmth
sunlight, brilliant blue sky
but October's wild gypsy beauty
cannot replace a family’s love.
 
 
 
Mountains Fog Silhouette by titouhwayne


REMEMBERING

In the privacy of my mind
I feel your lips on mine
warm, quiet embrace
touch your hair again
joyful, finding each other
I remember
and let the memory fade

___________________

Today’s LittleNip:

If you mix angel food cake and devil’s food cake, does it become a purgatory cake?

—Random Question

___________________

—Medusa, with thanks to Ann Wehrman for today’s fine poetry! (Hey—we've all been there!)
 
 
 
—Cartoon Courtesy of Public Domain
 

















 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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