Gold Star In My Veins Poem by John W. McEwers

The doctor told me that my cholesterol is high.
He said that I'm exceeding normal levels.
I'm supposed to cut down on my red meat consumption,
but I planned to have a pot roast for Thanksgiving,
and I won't have let the cow die in vain.

So I prepared the beef chuck, and it was juicy and pink
and I was the only one there to eat it,
sitting on the couch and watching
the VHS of our wedding
when you were thin and beautiful
and smiled at the camera.

I used to finish your food for you
when you were trying to lose the baby weight
and now I have bacon clogged veins
and a doctor telling me that I can't
enjoy the things I love anymore.
He sounds a lot like you.

My cholesterol is high.
I'm excelling at cholesterol.
His standards are too low.
He's a lot like you.