our daily bread in poetry

there are a number of similarities between
Jesus of Nazareth, messiah of the Christian faith and
Poppin’ Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy
far more than the fact that they’re both
known far more widely by their titles
than their given names

in each case bread is their flesh
they’re both known for reacting memorably when poked in the side
they’ve both been known to feed surprisingly large multitudes
they are both popularly depicted at the center of a table at a large gathering
both have a reputation for leaving odd marks on cloth napkins

they’ve both been rendered two-dimensional by the television
they’ve both been counteracted by pilates or pilates
they’re consumed by Americans unthinkingly
out of reflex with total disregard to actual contents
fat and happy on whatever they want to believe the magical little man means

more than anything else
they’re both said to be risen
Christ, they say often, is risen
The Pillsbury Doughboy is self-evidently risen
without the idea that they’re both risen
most people would be a lot less interested in either of them, really

Jesus Christ and Poppin’ Fresh would both be in reality
a whole lot browner then their popular depiction and
they’ll both keep for a couple of days in a cool dry place

oh also
we never saw the Pillsbury Doughboy’s father either so yeah
I guess they have that in common too

Last updated September 15, 2016