On bread alone

Man cannot live on bread alone, says Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior

who died too early to savor

garlic bread, pizza, or a chocolate croissant

Man cannot live on bread alone, and I am not a man,

so Jesus cannot tell me off, but my mother can

a real woman always shaves her underarms

a real woman has smooth legs, not any scars

a real woman has a thin waist, don’t go too far

Man cannot live on bread alone, and that is what you want to make me

something always paired with calories of more substance

something that must be buttered, fried, laid on the side

something shaped by a baker who will lose interest

the moment the loaf is placed upon the shelf

something shaped by a mother who will lose interest

the moment I start providing for myself

someone who is scared to be a mother

that my little bun in the oven will turn out too soft

that I will push her too hard

that no matter what I do she will fall into the hands of a starving man

who cannot live on bread alone, but always eats it anyway