Home » Poems » Caren Krutsinger » My Daddy Was a Ketchup Man

My Daddy Was a Ketchup Man

My daddy put ketchup on everything. He would not taste his meat without it, and he always had meat. Pizza and spaghetti were things the kids could abide, but not him. Chicken on Sunday maybe, but he wanted beef all the other nights with lots and lots of ketchup He did not stop there. Ketchup on eggs. Ketchup on casserole. Ketchup on meatloaf. Ketchup on mushrooms, ketchup on ketchup. It used to irritate my mother. I imagine she would like to watch him put that ketchup all over his plate one more time.

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M. L. Kiser

Date: 1/5/2019 4:49:00 AM

What...no mustard? And I thought my Dad had a strange palate. He did put ketchup on greens and soybeans but, that's about it. What is it with the male palate? Good one.

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/5/2019 9:47:00 AM

Ah, we had mustard but it had to have horseradish which I did not understand at all then but lavish in my coffee now.

P.S. Awtry

Date: 1/5/2019 12:14:00 AM

O Caren, darn you! I'm all teared up and sniffling and I'd been smiling broadly from the start until that last line...ketchup roller coaster... Well done!

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/5/2019 1:26:00 AM

Hahahaha I am a trickster in that department. I always say I am a wolf, but I truly am a fox also. Glad to know it got to you. I threw that last line in at the last second, for I thought the poem needed it, and it really seemed to honor my dad and my mom.

Wren Rushing

Date: 1/4/2019 10:13:00 PM

My wife doesn't like me putting ketchup on her home cooked meals. She thinks I do it because I don't like the taste. Sometimes she is right, but mostly like your father I just love Ketchup! Your father had great taste!

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 11:28:00 PM

I know right? I have ketchup on a lot of things too, but possibly eat peanut butter on more things - pancakes, mayonnaise sandwiches, waffles, oatmeal.

Kyle Kriticos

Date: 1/4/2019 8:36:00 PM

Absolutely heartfelt! I like the subtlety and directness of these verses it really points the reader to remembrance of a man who I am sure is deeply missed !

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 9:15:00 PM

We do miss him a lot, and his love for ketchup was legendary!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/4/2019 3:20:00 PM

I imagine she would. All those 'irritations' disappear when the big picture comes into view... ~ Gershon

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 9:16:00 PM

They sure do! But these little moments are what bring back the similes as we remember.

Alexis Y.

Date: 1/4/2019 8:21:00 AM

Hi Caren, Great poem dedication to your dad.The last three lines sums up your poem of heart "It used to irritate my mother,I imagine she would like to watch him put that ketchup,all over his plate one more time." There's nothing that we "all" wouldn't give to have our loved one again:-) Alexis

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 9:54:00 AM

Thank you Alexis. It is the LITTLE things that become so big in our memories years and years later. I still smile when I think of the way he would saturate everything with ketchup while my mother would beg him in vain to "taste it first" which he never would do.

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 1/4/2019 6:25:00 AM

Yes, how we miss their quirky ways once they are gone. I miss watching mom run over the house looking for my dads hiding spot, where he hid her birthday cake every Christmas eve. lol, it was mostly in the garage, in the wine cellar, have a beautiful day sweet heart xo

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 8:08:00 AM

Have a beautiful day yourself, my friend. A gorgeous, beautiful, happy snappy day!

Ann Gilmour

Date: 1/4/2019 3:07:00 AM

Great poem Caren, made me smile as I have a son who loves Ketchup too. Personally I can't stand the stuff! Such a poignant last line Caren. Kindest thoughts Ann xx

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 8:10:00 AM

I LOVE ketchup; especially combined with brown sugar and a little mustard as a topping for meatloaf. LOVE it!

Anthony Biaanco

Date: 1/4/2019 1:22:00 AM

Hi Karen, nicely penned- we must of had the same daddy

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/4/2019 8:12:00 AM

It is funny to me that I do not think we ever had pizza until Chef BoyAr Dee came out with boxed pizza when I was in 7th grade, and I do not think my Dad ever ate a bit of it, unless we threw two pounds of ground beef all over it.