Long Cookery Poems

I had a long argument today...
Whilst sitting by the 
surcharging charging airport port,
shouldertoshoulder with this pastor.

Delayed flight and low juice
kept us there, squared off;
shoulder to shoulder.

He with his Righteousness,
me with my Right View.
He with all...

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Happy Birthday Grandma, we are celebrating another year
You may not know it’s your birthday, but we do and we cheer
We get to spend some more valuable time before the dreaded day draws near
A truly inspirational...

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Morning

The Innkeeper checked his watch once again 
Hoping the chef's feelings weren't hurt.
The last time they were, he arrived two hours late
And then left, serving just his dessert.

Sadly the chef, on this day of all...

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"The Blue Book of Cookery", was propped by two rolls of duck tape.
The library number viable on its binding.
A Fed-x box contained the "Cava" wine, 
On the unfinished counter top.
Harold broad shoulders loomed over the...

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"The Blue Book of Cookery", was propped by two rolls of duck tape.
The library number viable on its binding.
A Fed-x box contained the "Cava" wine, 
On the unfinished counter top.
Harold broad shoulders loomed over the...

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Lockdown Lard

Ok, so let’s address the elephant in the room
And the issue that does loom
That most of us face
Of our exuberant tastes
That has led to …lockdown lard!

Since March, life for everyone has been difficult and...

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Surely this will come as no shock,
But it makes me so happy 
When I think of your cooking,
I just imagine it and I start to hum, 
Thinking of how it fills me with comfort. 
I...

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tittering totter is not a high heeled smoke alarm nor a ship

Valve number eighteen is open said the rasping snakelike male. Slithering. Pipe like gatherings of serpentalias sweeping. Above and below. A surface scarred tissue....

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The whiskers on a spotty dog are often akin to the stripes on blankets. And don't let it be said that onion peel is best served in a mustard bath with banana slices. Oh wow...

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the sink drips of your tears and shines with your sweat
it cleanses our homestead and centres the kitchen cheers
it smells of your cookery delights
of every plate and pot you scrape
and of every scorn you bake

the...

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Whispering shadow


Drenched darkness of loam
Under the crust of earth
Reassures sprout seedlings
Roots of emotions
Delve in heart for stream 
Revealing no identity
For thorn or flower
For sweet or sour
For hatred or love! 

You slammed your window panes every...

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I missed the meals mama used to cook 
Her recipes were not in the cookery book 
Mama was just more of a kitchen queen 
She's the best cook we have ever seen 

Mama's Fufu with...

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Man in Kitchen

So this is it, this place I’ve never been
I wander in and find it’s kept pristine
So this is where she disappears
And later on the food appears

Ah well! I’ll have to do my best
I...

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It’s Christmas day
Hip hip hooray
With festive cheer
And our family here
The feast begins
Amidst all our grins

Crackers pulled, mottos read
Fancy hats upon each head
With turkey eaten
We’ll not be beaten
Enter the flaming pud
Which looks so good

But whence it...

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It was her summer

It was in June 1950,
mother was divorced from my father,
he had been a seaman during the war
and had never overcome the trauma.
not that I know anything about this, nor did my mother
She...

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Her name is simply Thalia!
Does that sound unfamiliar?
A science foundation in an old city
Volunteering to tackle The Gritty, 
Here in Nigeria accomplish
What her compatriots wish;
Like fingers not failed by triggers
The firm shovels of firm diggers,
Already...

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neatly bound, so neatly aligned,
glistening blue, in perfect rows,
labelled in gilded gold letters,
wisdom packed many printed books,
from left to right a thousand years,
travel time, flick history pages,
cookery across in next aisle,
vegan diets or gourmet meals,
climb...

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every tap and scratch of chalk upon the blackboard
every tick tock tick tock of the classroom clock
every bored yawn, restless fidget, impatient sigh

these were...

every reprimand for running, telling off for not
every hymn sung, register taken,...

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The Unseen Portugal 

There are many poor people in Portugal, thousands
of people need on food banks to survive.
Some schools keep open even when closed only so
children can get a warm meal a day. 
There is...

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If I want to spell a word I get my dictionary
Others use their I-phone

If I want to know the time I look at my watch
Others use their I-phone

If I want to send a message I...

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Make An Exception
This is what I want you to do. Make an exception because this is ME. I want you to make an exception each and every time. I'm unique and not like the others....

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I don’t have lots of money,
So I can’t make big donations,
I don’t have lots of languages,
To give to other nations.
I don’t have big ambitions,
That I want to give away,
I don’t have strong opinions,
For other folk...

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My imaginary resturant is painted sky blue.
Please enter, let me entertain you.

There is soft music playing.
The kind I hope will get you swaying.

Each table has an ocean view.
Never booked out, always a few.

Smiling faces take...

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IRONING

Years of ironing starched shirt collars
for my father and the aprons
we wore for cookery class in school,
gave a polished surface to the clothes iron.

The end opened like the lid of a box
and out came the...

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I have found the perfect solutions
For all those New Year’s resolutions

A friend recommended trying the see food diet
You eat everything in sight – oh I can’t wait to try it

Then I’m going to tackle my...

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