The Millennial Pedestrian

This poem came my way via another poetry site, "American Life in Poetry," hosted and edited by the former Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser. It makes me want to know more about the work of R. S. Gwynn, and to eat something unhealthy. It helps if you’re familiar with "Pied Beauty," by Gerard Manley Hopkins. If you’re not, look it up and try reading it aloud. Tricky. But "Fried Beauty" is pretty great on its own. 

Fried Beauty
    By R. S. Gwynn

Glory be to God for breaded things–
 Catfish, steak finger, pork chop, chicken thigh,
   Sliced green tomatoes, pots full to the brim
With french fries, fritters, life-float onion rings,
 Hushpuppies, okra golden to the eye,
   That in all oils, corn or canola, swim

Toward mastication’s maw (O molared mouth!);
 Whatever browns, is dumped to drain and dry
   On paper towels’ sleek translucent scrim,
These greasy, battered bounties of the South:
                        Eat them.