One Man's Meat Poem by Samantha Webb

Banquet for a king. What takes your pleasure?
Discourse, food and wine, in equal measure?
And while you seek to reassure each other,
The fable begins and the prose unfolds.

Round at the table, knights of the garter,
Gather ye men to consider your charter.
Blithely, benighted. Who is the martyr?
Incarcerated, longing for repose.

Tick…tock…the minutes labour in malignance,
Meat is your poison, wine for complaisance.
Alas, on its chalice, you can but glance,
Unintoxicated and lachrymose.

Risus Sardonicus, pulls up a chair,
Together with Trismus (a bloodthirsty pair)
Cervicodynia! It’s too much to bare!
Rigor hunts Mortis to bring to a close.

Rise from the table in glorious defeat
Bold in your absence (your plate is replete)
Order your spirit and take it down neat
Resign yourself to a life indisposed.