Vegetable Man

Vegetable Man

for Ron

—owed to the vegetable man poster that hung
on our kitchen wall in Brookville

Carrots take root in my soil
Sweet potato eyes in my mouth

You stalk me
I run like a squashed tomato

Asparagus and celery
Cucumber,  cheese, and liquor

You run through my lettuce
Like wine vinegar

Or there at your table
Like an open face sandwich

You are about to devour

My vegetable man
I’m in a stew
About you