Ina Vandebroek – Religion

I sit with the pig

under a nutmeg tree,

on a cool rock

of limestone.

I watch him eat

from a cut up car tire,

his snout searching

the food relentlessly.

Leftover rice and peas

with coconut milk,

now spoiled

from yesterday’s cooking.

I contemplate my place

in this picture,

but my place

does not matter.

All the pig knows

is that I brought food,

that should be meaning

enough for both of us.

There are no mosquitoes

under the nutmeg tree,

it is almost a surprise

to catch a break.

Before I leave

I kneel down

to scratch the pig’s belly,

it rolls over from happiness.

I realize this

is as close

as I get

to religion.

Ina Vandebroek (Portland, 31 August 2015)