Poems by Dr. Kitty Cardwell

Ate too much
 
Did it again.  Ate too much and feel awful.  There are so many reasons why-
It shouldn’t go to waste,
It cost a lot to bake,
Such wonderful taste,
But, really, the whole cake?
 
Did it again. Ate too much and feel guilty.  Reasons to be ashamed -
Think of one’s health,
Of one’s heart,
Of one’s weight,
Of one’s delight in eating the whole damn cake!
 
Did it again.  Ate too much and swear that tomorrow –
It won’t be the same,
Gluttony will be tamed,
Salad and fruit for health’s sake,
And besides…
there is no more cake.

​Blaming hunger for thoughts of food
 
Oh, I wish I weren’t so hungry.
I know.  I’ll think of something else.
That is a pretty bird in the tree.  I wonder how it would taste. 
The bee is drinking from the flower. I wish I were a bee.
Think of something else!
The sun feels good on my face, the dirt soft beneath my feet. If only they made my stomach better…
Maybe, I’ll lie on the ground to let the sun and soil warm me. I can watch the clouds.
That one looks like a chicken! There goes a yam. There’s a bowl with fufu!
Aiee, I wish I weren’t so hungry.
I’ll roll on my side. Maybe it will feel better that way.
That goat is eating a piece of cardboard. It looks so contented. Maybe cardboard is good!
No!  I will not steal from the goat. I’ll roll the other way to not see the contented goat.
A mouse is running down the leg of the empty oba. Its cheeks are full!  Even the mouse has maize to eat!
If only I weren’t so hungry!
If I roll on my stomach I’ll only see the ground.  I won’t be tempted to think of food. 
I’m so hungry, I’m sleepy. So sleepy, I’m drifting.  Drifting and dreaming…
of something to eat.

​Dr. Cardwell is a food security expert.  In 2016, she joined the Oklahoma State University as Director of the National Institute of Microbial Forensics in Food and Agricultural Biosecurity & Professor, of Biosecurity and Microbial Forensic Sciences.  From 2001-2016, Dr. Cardwell was a National Program Leader, with the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture in Washington, DC. She has also served as an Advisor to the World Bank.

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