Celebrating 50:Ix

My neighbors pot smells good A herbal sweetness that lingers in the air And then cloy the tongue With hunger deeper than love's desire I smell the thyme, parsley, pepper The onions and basil in coming supper Wher e children will sit On the outdoor log And see the remnants of kitchen fire Smoking through thatch roof Like an evening mist Curling up its cuddly tail To meow from feet to feet And Hartley dipping his spoon deep Where gravy thick as longing runs I hear begin the story Of our hheritage once again. It smells rich Like a soup blend of vegetables O the pepperpot brims my mind again It is a two course meal tonight For snappers uncurled in the frying pan Are festively clad With vegetable and spices And garnish my mouth O my neigbors tease is coming out I smell the sweetness of Jamaica The kitchen bringing us again Together, the balm of future pain And the coco heart