That was a mistake.
I ate too much.
Way too much.
“More than the larder can bear” too much.
I ate the way a starving village eats:
Ravenously
Rapturously
Revengefully, like my body must be punished
for walking me to a table
where such a feast was offered
for sitting down before a plate as filled as that
for cutting and slicing and slurping in
everything around
and shouting out
demanding seconds.
My stupid body needs to be taught
not to do that to itself.

My stomach hurts.
My waist hurts.
My jaws hurt
and my skin hurts
as it is being stretched beyond capacity
threatening to snap
and showing my innards for all to see.

I am not going to survive this night.
I’ve got the meat sweats
the pasta runs
and a bad case of cheese face.
That was so much food I packed in
I think I made up for the three people who couldn’t make it.
I am ashamed of what I have done to myself
and what I will soon do
to the bathroom.

I made a mistake
consuming so much,
well past the point of enjoyment.
I shouldn’t have eaten so much
– but how else will they know you liked it?