1.
All the veggies to hand, throw in a large pot
including the heavy roots for thickening
(potatoes, sweet potatoes …)
with split peas, lentils, soup mix, rice,
salt and lots of spices — I like ‘em hot —
remembering coriander for the taste
and turmeric for keeping healthy.
Fill with water, stir, cook very slowly.
Decant hours later, when cooled,
into six stacking freezer containers
and one big bowl to have now.
2.
All the bits and pieces of your experience, gather
in a huge conglomeration — not leaving out
the ordinary, which holds the rest together.
Mix in the savoury chunks you like to go back to
and taste all over again, because they nourish you
even in memory. And then add the highlights,
those moments that blend in spice and colour —
the joys and even the mistakes … let us say
the adventures, however they may have turned out.
Stir it all up, bring to a rolling boil, allow to simmer.
Gulp a big bowl; lick your lips. (Save some for later.)
Image by Gaelle Marcel at Unsplash.
I was going to write a micropoem, but it grew! That was section 1. I shared it with the LitChix, my offline writers' workshop; one of them insisted it was a recipe but not a poem. So I let it percolate for 10 days, then added section 2.
I'm sharing this at Poets and Storytellers United, Friday Writings #63: What's Cooking?
I say Part 1 is a poem. (Find me a recipe that has the oomph of "heavy roots", you know?) A very tasty poem. I want some!
ReplyDeleteOh goody! Thank you!! (I did of course do my best to craft it.)
DeleteI like them both, Rosemary. Not sure though, I don't regularyly eat a lot of the ingredients. The second, I sort of follow this when we travel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice prompt, I like to do Recipe Poems but it is hard to keep them interesting. From what I read, a recipe can be a real food recipe but most are directions for some accomplishment. (I made a quick study, using google, last night. I took some other the ideas there, but not all.)
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I love the way you enter so willingly into the prompts, Jim! Thank you.
Deletethe ordinary, which holds the rest together - lentils and banal days.. can't have enough of both!!! Protein of life!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I agree.
DeleteWhat a terrific analogy! Part two describes with delicious perfection the way of a life … savory and not so savory ingredients all stirred together into a stew of memories. And we're lucky if we CAN lick our lips in the end. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it!
DeleteGrand. Savour the lip smacking experiences of life
ReplyDeleteYes indeed.
DeleteIt grew like the best kitchen experiments! I think both halves work nicely with each other.
ReplyDeleteThe first one was definitely a good base for the second!
DeleteGreat recipes I am licking my lips :)
ReplyDeleteOh, good!
DeleteSection 1 is a poem, in my opinion. It has all the ingredients and the process to cook it (and keep some for later). Section 2 is more metaphorically written. It does have its intentions and direction. I would say i enjoyed the first one more, but both are good, and i liked how the second one was created.
ReplyDeleteThank you. The first one was more felt, the second more thought, and I do think feeling is one of the essential ingredients for poetry — so I would say your instincts are right!
DeleteRosemary, I am doing a series of poetry inspired by Australian First People's art at my other blog. Perhaps you may like it. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I would surely like to see that! I'll be over to have a look after breakfast.
Delete