A proud upright soldier
We served together
A brother you were 
Upright and resilient 
In your tiny bottle

First we met
I dappled softly 
Unsure of portion 
Your fire I was unready
Accustomed we grew

A clever chef
Perfect my meals
Palatable MRE 
A brother in arms
Brigade of tiny bottles

Defeat the dreaded:
Chicken A La King
Veggie burger
Beef enchilada 
Pork patties 

Strain you have
Doubled and tripled
Coordinated assault
Even you failed against
Veggie omelet

Somedays are simple
Main dish is fine
Simple cracked crackers
Plain or vegetable 
Flavors drizzled and shook

Days gone now
Contracts or costs
Absent my old friend 
Measly plastic packet
A legacy fades

A soulless brown bag
A corpse without breath
Fiery spirit exorcised 
Old friend remembered
The army marches forward 

Within my fridge
Upon my meals
A decent plate of eggs
More than a brown bag
A brother in arms

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I’m a Full-Time Husband, Father, veteran, and Accountant, who moonlights as an author.