Gluttony

Gluttony
by Anthony Hecht

Let the poor look to themselves, for it is said
Their saviour wouldn’t turn stones into bread.
And let the sow continually say grace.
For moss shall build in the lung and leave no trace,
The glutton worm shall tunnel in the head
And eat the word out of the parchment face.

Source: from The Hard Hours by Anthony Hecht, 1967.