Water, Flour and Salt

When the televisions all go blank and the malls close their automatic doors

Bring me water and flour and I shall create a living sourdough starter

And you shall once again see that man does not live without real bread

When the fast food Meccas are filled only with their own debris

and no greasy fat can be ordered from the comfort of a drive-thru

Bring more water, flour and a little salt when the starter has come alive

When there are no more lobsters to be had in any ‘All that you can eat’

You will wait 3 long days until it is time for the baking

In the meantime, just keep on bringing more water, flour and salt

When the colored and caffeinated sugar you indulge in as refreshment

Only comes to mind when you see a crumpled, faded can

Maybe just then will you recognize the grounded reality of water, flour and salt

When corporate agribusiness can no longer provide your minimum daily requirements

You will start to ask yourself concerning what you can make to eat

I tell you, that is the time, when I will perform the miracle of the dough

When you have finally realized that the supermarkets are closed for good

Your hunger will drive you to the extreme of even working with your hands

Then come and see the risen dough be turned into naked loaves

When you no longer take for granted where or how your meals are created

Do as you are told and gather wood for the oven

Watch with the bright eyes of hunger as the bread goes in to bake

When your stomach growls and your children whine for food

Smell the glorious, overwhelming odor of the baking of the loaves

And stare in wonder at the creation of such a marvel, from so very little

When television commercials for factory food come to you only in your dreams

Listen to the loaves crackle as they are pulled from the fire

Marvel at the thick brown crust that must cool before it can be eaten

When you are absolutely sick of eating from whatever cans you might find

Gaze upon the loaves that lay cooling and behold timeless domestic sculpture

Then before you even take a bite, first bring more water, flour and salt

When the rats leave your dwellings because they are starving and you eat them

Ask how you never in all your life have crunched into real bread crust before

And thank your lucky fucking stars you brought more water, flour and salt