After working every day for two weeks straight
a co-worker points out you always eat the same thing:
two cheeseburgers, a large fries, and a big cola.
You’ve never thought about them
as separate items before, have barely considered it
a ritual, nothing more than the right amount of food
to induce comfort and satisfaction.
But when she points out you’ve eaten
twenty-eight cheeseburgers, fourteen large fries
and a kitchen sink’s worth of cola,
you make a mental note
to pack a sandwich for lunch tomorrow,
eat and apple, possibly some celery.
Billeh Nickerson (2009) from McPoems. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2009.
Poetic Bites (Excerpts from research essays)
“Nickerson’s McPoems reveal all of the interesting customers that the worker has at McDonald’s. Some of the poems tell the stories of dedicated customers who come to eat every week or every day. What makes “Diet” different is how the roles are reversed. Instead of the customers being trapped in their fast-food routines, the employee has become immersed in this culture.”
“Instead of dieting for the sake of losing weight, the employee diets as a conscious decision to combat the uniformity and homogeneity of corporate culture.”
Artful Fare Responses (Response to art work)
“The storyline in Alitta’s artwork changes when Jeff goes on a walk to discover an angry crowd of fries and their leader called “The Burger King.” Jeff is battling not only with fast-food, but also with its routine. He is so surprised that someone pointed out his daily ritual that he is forced to create this imaginary battle inside his head. The fries all have eyes; it is clear that Jeff has a big battle ahead of him.”
“In the first three panels, the protagonist follows a set routine indicated by a timer. The routine is as follows: 6:05 a.m. — waking up; 10:30 a.m. — stocking shelves; and 11:10 a.m. — going on break. In both Nickerson’s poetic text and Cadmus’ comic, the term “diet” is used as an allegory for change. The negative effects of mechanized human labour require proper attention in order to be resolved.”
student Bios
ALITTA CADMUS (FINE ARTS) is a 2nd year undergraduate student with Creative Writing as her major. Alitta's interests are in both Fine Arts and English. Her future goals at KPU are to complete the Associate Arts degree in Creative Writing and further her studies at SFU with a Bachelors of Education. Her aim is to teach creative writing to students.
JOSEPH CHAN (ENGLISH) is in his third year at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is currently completing a major in English. He enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction novels; he hopes to publish his own book one day.
ALYSSA WARE (ENGLISH) is a second year student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She is currently studying English and History, hoping to one day become a teacher. Alyssa plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree so that she can continue with her passion of English and History.