POETRY
Scrupulous Cold Chain
…the Earthbound greens, in their polyethylene bag, stayed crisp right up to the expiration date, a full eighteen days after leaving the field — no small technological feat. The inert gases, scrupulous cold chain and space-age plastic bag (which allows the leaves to respire just enough) account for much of this longevity… — Michael Pollan
Moldy potatoes from a
Country grocery store,
Moldy strawberries.
Red red tomatoes
Hard
As apples.
The fantasy is of a
Single point of failure.
The store, the store,
It must have been
Some careless idiot at the store.
But the whole thing is a black box.
I do not even know who picked my food,
Let alone who packaged it,
Loaded it, drove it,
Unloaded it.
How long did it sit in the sun
Before someone thought to stow it in the walk-in?
How long did it sit in a bin?
Twelve people have to care
And do their best
And,
I don’t know,
Not be getting divorced,
Or I get
Moldy blueberries.
Rancid tortilla chips.
Red red tomatoes
As hard as potatoes.
