An Ode to Rice

(Freewrite)

Oh rice, how I love thee
Let me count the ways
By the bowlful, not the grain
That would take too long
Though one grain is good
Dozens or hundred (or thousands)
Of grains clumped together
In a nice steaming batch
Work much better for the buds

Pilaf, fried, spicy, sweet
Peas, Curry, Chicken, Beef,
White, Brown, Red Beans
Saffron, Sushi, Krispie, Condi,
Chinese, Greek, Cajun, Thai
Mexican, African, Puerto Rican
Jamaican me crazy

In clumps, stews, or pudding
You make everyone better
Meals more fit, tummies complete
In all its simplicity
All it takes is access
So tiny, so minute, so crucial
The world would be a better place
If we all had a bowl of rice.

Zzzz...

(second draft of a freewrite rewrite)

As I spend waking moments
struggling not to be unwoke,
Whatever neurons I have left
try to fire as best they can
Synapses shoot electrical bursts
with increasing dullness
But I lay my head back, listening to music
Of summer and butterflies and rest
All I can feel now is just exhaustion, but a smile
Choices to be put off later
Sleep to be had
Now I lay me down to bed
And always will I be led
To sweet slumber oft said
Never mix wine with med(s).