Salt Beef Sandwich
He’s having a glorious
Salt beef sandwich
For lunch
And thinking that probably
No one travels to London
For the English food
But that he’s certainly
Going to enjoy some of it
While he’s here.
Taylor Dibbert is a poet in Washington, DC. He’s author of, most recently, “Takoma.”
I’m hungry! Nice work!
Thanks, Stephen!
I like writing that expresses a certain point of view, a perspective that appears on the surface of things that seems to give absolutely nothing away, that appears to cover no novel terrain that hasn’t been covered before. Poetry is meant to make you think and feel. It is meant to astonish and surprise and make you happy and remind you of the blessings in the world. Food, grace, gratitude. I see this poet. I see this poem. The poem is a seen, visible, tender thing. Visually stunning. It speaks to me on so many levels. You might say, oh, it’s just a poem about a hungry guy or it’s just a poem about a sandwich. To me it reminds me of my father, his studies abroad, my childhood, my mother, my luck, my parents’ sacrifices, Sunday lunch, cherished familial moments. Poetry is important because it can make you feel and think. It can also make you react and respond. The poem more than the poet wants this from the reader. That’s just my perspective.