Originally published by Minimum Wage: Food Issue
Everyone, Everyone!
Out the back
of the apartment block
where like a restaurant
everything
disguised
by green and white table cloth.
Brown sourdough fighting
to wipe the last vinegar drops.
Someone, put the dog inside.
The first tomato
held up
like a sacrifice.
The press lifted to the table,
thumbs rough like salt
peel away the blemishes
as if stroking the forehead of a cat.
A river of jars
wait
for a kiss from a basil leaf.
The lazy susan spins,
throws the kids
into the family pot
to go
stomp, Stomp, STOMP!
Squash all their tomato heads!
A raging sea of
juice
and gooey yellow seeds.
Dance the nutbush,
make small tomato hearts go
pump, Pump, PUMP!
Just pruney skin left
for the chickens to be fed.
Inside, the youngest girl starts to cry--
a stewing duck's head
staring at her
beneath the lid of the pot.
Don't be scared Nonno says,
look,
the best part
is the marrow
slurped through rosemary broth.
Now take the next one outside.
Go on
don't wipe your feet,
we don't have long
your father is coming
at four o'clock.