Life in a Microwave Metropolis – Michael Roque

January 23, 2026

In a microwave metropolis
rubbery steaks advertised as rare and succulent
are served sizzled to well-done—

Misrepresenting menus,
they are forked into mouths
watering for Grade A meat.

Flesh heavily spiced,
hastily mixed
to mask the rot with flavors straining to entice—

Prepped for consumers—
heaved into trash cans
to be scarfed by the starved and street rats.

Our home isn’t a city—
It’s a butchery
of prime cuts burnt by amateur cooks—

cookie-cuttered
into contorted shapes,
slammed onto trays and expected to be joyfully digested.