Pat Jones

Stubborn Belly Fat

by Norman Ball

I now take stubborn belly fat in stride.
Hip to its extra-existential weight,
my sit-ups notwithstanding, I still hide
its bulge as best I can. What human freight
resists the crunch, the run, the walk, the bike
as though exertion falls on stone-eared hips;
impervious to fast and hunger strike
or cutting down on Lay’s potato chips?

Fat chance I’ll buckle to this rubber ring,
a man who’s logged a lifetime being slim.
I dare say I could dine on not-a-thing
and still comport this belt-defying rim.
What fatty tissue issues forth this swell?
All fat should burn in gyms — or burn in Hell.

Norman Ball's essays, poetry, music and videos pop up like dandelions both on and/or about radio (Prairie Home Companion), film (Bright Lights Film Journal), economics (iTulip.com), music (neilyoung.com) and sheer farce (Light). His videos can be seen at www.youtube.com/desertrun.