Jeffrey Yamaguchi
10 (plus) Ways to Fuel and Feed a Hunger
1 :: The march was a mix of deliberate planning & spontaneous collaboration. Protesters from all corners. A fiery mix of ingredients. Seamstresses & secretaries. Teachers & time stampers. Homemakers in sneakers. Solidarity in seams. Threaded of white cotton & blue-collar themes.
2 :: The cart arrived before dawn. A combination of engine meets fire. Business dependent upon crossed wires & crosshairs. Of intersections & independent pursuits. Aware of the potential for spontaneous reactions & reactors of multiple means. Ridiculous questions of soldiers & sailors. The Times not alone in querying sensibilities.
4 :: The hot dog cart mobile thanks to wheels that turn on grease. Its owner well-aware of the power of metal that squeaks. He had a permit to please. And a hat to tip. Milk roll blankets. Sauerkraut on top. Bellies rumble. His cart a means.
5 :: Red-hot dachshund sausages not the only rage. A source of sustenance & solidarity. Amidst juxtapositions of many shades. Women with babies in streets. Police with paddles taking sides. Boots on asphalt. Parades of pride. Permission comes at a price. Five cent dogs. All pennies pinched. All dollars (& dolls) counted.
7 :: He set the cart on concrete. A plot at a corner off 5th. Then watched those seeking to conquer what’s right. Carefully choreographed chaos amidst always odd coordinates. All tempers moderated.
8 :: The women gathered in protest. Marched for their right to vote. He was a quiet chap. Found his voice in the power not to protest but to provide nourishment without notice. He’d boil premium sausage links and watch arms link. Food both a fuel & a fire for desire. Hot dogs in water. All tempers on boil. Offered extra condiments amidst strength in cooperation.
9 :: He knew the feeling well. Understood the need & the role of sides. Boiled all wieners. Fed all tempers. Paired dogs with spicy mustard and a splash of ketchup. Progress takes both time & proper temperament.
10 :: For him, it wasn’t about the money but the mission. He’d tuck an extra roll in brown parcel bags. Then wink as marchers selected a drink. Not to quench a thirst, but to support the fight. There are many ways to fuel a hunger. To vote.
* New York’s 1915 Suffrage Parade
Jen Schneider is an educator who lives, writes, and works in small spaces throughout Pennsylvania. Recent works include A Collection of Recollections, Invisible Ink, On Habits & Habitats, and Blindfolds, Bruises, and Breakups.
Jeffrey Yamaguchi is a writer, poet, and photographer exploring and experimenting in the field of book publishing. https://www.instagram.com/hiddenexhibit/.