Fat Tuesday

I wrote this poem three years ago for Mardi Gras and thought I’d share it again this year. It will be included in my next poetry book, tentatively titled “Rejoice Rejoice: Poems for Holidays, Seasons, and Special Occasions.”

Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras
We call it Fat Tuesday
It’s the day we eat,
drink and be merry
for tomorrow we shall die
or maybe only diet

We sacrifice the things we love
→chocolate
→sweets
→coffee
→bread
→maybe our favorite TV shows

We attempt by our sacrifice
to understand
the passion of Christ, His suffering,
His sacrifice for us

He really did die,
not just diet

For 40 days we sacrifice
as if we were wandering
in the wilderness, hungry and tired
But each night we sleep in our own
warm, cozy beds
with our stomachs full
even if not with our favorite treats

Can we ever truly understand?
Perhaps not
For today, let’s just eat