Timothy Pilgrim - One Poem

Traitor Joe

 

Be assured, not an easy task, even aided

by fine wine, a Cote de Rhone --

 

in fact, I did not actually plant the wheat, 

grind flour, sift it, grow greens,

 

force-feed geese,  take their livers, 

make Foie gras from scratch,

 

hor d'oeuvre served with Cornichons

prior to our main course, Coq au vin, 

 

for which I had hunted  mushrooms, 

slaughtered hogs, killed my cock.

 

I did, however, drive the Porsche

to a trendy market, spend much time,

 

find these delicacies, endure checkout,

pass it all off to you as mine.

 

 

 

Timothy Pilgrim,  a Pacific Northwest poet  in journals such as Windfall, Cirque and Carcinogenic Poetry, is co-author of Bellingham poems (2014) and included in Idaho's Poets: A Centennial Anthology (University of Idaho Press), and Tribute to Orpheus II (Kearney Street Books).