Marjorie Deiter Keyishian: About Hunger

About hunger, about desire,
what we whimper for
in the bleak reaches of night.

At dawn, before want begins,
there is thin light belonging to birds
who eat their weight in seed, in berry,
hour after lustful hour.

Tables groan under the weight
of root, leaf, and meat.
Market, stand, and oven are
quite full. And still, we want.



From Slow Runner, Finishing Line Press, 2007.