an ode to vinegar pie
​russell holbert

​because I'm not done
talking about it!

To flies
(and shoofly)
and more specifically
flies with taste!

To garnished pay
and garnished plates
and let us garlands bring!

To paying together
(and mimosas when they're ready)
and switching between fork and pen...

This is a crucible–
infinitely dense
and thousands of degrees
(a trickle of sweat
in my cardigan):
hot–heat from
words, thoughts, pies
crammed in a
hipster aquarium
of comfort food
in breakfast form,

To the gentle nuance
of time well-spent
and the cart before the horse
and sugar before cream
and discovery before loss
and a toast before the wedding
and words before meaning...

To your indie film,
and my unfinished score,
and to God, who sucks
at keeping score–
God bless that fact...

...again, to garnish!
and Judy Garland,
and expectations as
missed communications
and anything I missed
​while I finished my slice
of beautiful
vinegar
pie.

Russell Henry Holbert (he/him) is a Pittsburgh-based composer, performer, and poet. His work centers around the domestic sphere, having now worked on three opera projects involving moms. He received his BFA in Music from Carnegie Mellon University. Russell currently spends most of his days with his cats, Ben, Jerry, & Edie.