Enough to Go Around: Basho's Lesson

“Eat vegetable soup rather than duck stew.”

– Basho

Crave tuna.

Wonder what Basho would have said on tuna.

Open can of tuna.

Strain juice of tuna.

Give half tuna juice to Tobin the dog.

Alert Pickle the happily rolling cat of tuna.

Give half tuna juice to Pickle.

Mix in tuna tablespoon of mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.

Fork tuna onto whole wheat saltine crackers.

Indulge.

Put tuna bowl on floor for Tobin to finish.

Twist close pack of crackers.

Dodge sudden, uncharacteristic dog snapping at cat.

Pick up bowl off floor.

Gather evidence.

Return to scene of crime.

Scold Tobin, “bad dog.”

Wait two minutes with guilty feeling.

Comfort Pickle and Tobin respectively.

Regret tuna.

Maggie Hess

July 30, 2011