Bon Apetite Poem by Irene C S ClarkHogg

Bon Appetite


The world is my oyster, how shall I consume it,
In small, bite sized pieces or swallow it whole?
What cutlery used to aid the partaking?
Will it nourish my body, my mind and my soul?

How sharp the fine blade on my umbilical cord,
That slides through the tissue and sets the boy free.
No longer a parasite of my mother’s body,
I now have my chance to grow, and flourish as me.

I cling to the knife that takes slices of learning.
I grow in the knowledge of the world I can own,
Though giving and taking is part of the contract,
For man, just one unit, does not exist alone.

With my fork I take what the world has to offer.
Four tines for my lover, two children and I
Maturity brings the need of working together,
To plan for a future in which new rules apply.

I now have grown old so I lift up my spoon,
Less will be spilled of the food as I feed
From this world I love, and still am a part of,
Though much less my taking now, much less my need.

This whole world was my oyster, but now I can feel
A brand new world beckons, with a much finer meal.