Thank Thee, Father, for thy beans & rice, forsooth,
for every legume and grain to grace my tooth.

For, thou'st foresight the bottle would steal his life & work.
You caused the starches' presence, so hunger pangs may never lurk.

T'was when branches of many shed their leaves,
to both our guts and ribs, the pair faithfully did cleave.

The red and white thick combatted the frigid--
its smoky chunkiness invading all extremities as well as each digit.

My whilom assertion of 20-something as being "grown"
produced for me a 2001 Chevy Malibu Throne.

Whilst I sat in delusional rule with only pride's prize in-hand,
they were present for my royal homeless feast via their bless-ed Hormel cans.

They did not require heat,
nor, from me, did they require the meats.

They sustained me stubborn quest,
when I'd no steak, bacon, or breast to ingest.

They don't spoil, no matter ice storms nor pandemics,
and, the same way the poor's oppression is, their nutrition is systemic.

No matter the corrupt regime or political party,
they didn't care.  They just showed up as unbiased and hearty.

Iron, Zinc, and B12 you did make
giving us equal bulk to those who, daily, can eat steak.

I adore how you boldly grace any and every food store,
so every class you could be obtainable for.
It's you who fed the meek through World Wars and who nutrified the innocent for
them to, then, go settle the score.

The Maker, so gracious, sought to bless Lily and Gladis with
the perfect mate for their cornbread and cabbage. 

'Tis why the Tex-Creole fam thrived for generations--
because they bore us and, then, gangsterly nourished us, to withstand all hostile engagements.

I no longer see them as the dish of the peasant;
I now welcome them as Old Man and Down Bad's guests--
the company of the most pleasant.

So, let's toast the beans & rice!
They thwarted doubled hunger from being the thrice.

And, long live the queenliest of staples!
May they sustain us through unforeseen tribulations;
may your whites, pinks, reds, browns, yellows, and purples arrogantly grace the humblest of tables.

From the Soul,
 

📕““Frioles y Arroz”” is a piece from my upcoming published anthology, “Return from the Pale Trail: Gifts to Humanity We’ve Been Taught to Forget.” I’m ecstatic to share this wonderful piece of literature with the family. I hope you all enjoy. Until then, feel free to check out my other published materials.