The Great Food Revolution
Finally... after millennia ...
Explorers trekked the soil of America
And chanced upon amazing crops
That, back at home, their folks knew not;
Around the world, new foods debuted
For one and all, and me, and you
A belated homage paid to natives
For seeds, Divine, long cultivated;
(Points subtract, for tobacco leaves
For being the cause of lung disease)
Chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate
What was the world like without it?
Hot cocoa sips, cookies with chips
The proof is in the pudding I favor
Which, of course, is the chocolate flavored;
Bittersweet or milky -- on the palate, silky...
As I write, the stuff melts in my mouth;
Credit goes, to the tribes of the south
We were born, knowing corn
Taking it for granted, like we always had it;
In this world of Hershey bars and milkshakes
We ought to know from whence we got cornflakes;
When is it proper to act like a slob?
When eating buttery corn on a cob;
Corn is the base of most puffy snacks
And crunchy ones, and Cracker Jacks;
If potato chips is what speaks to you
Keep on reading -- that's American, too
Starchy potatoes in earthy skins
Had first been farmed by Indians;
Eat them mashed, or nice brown-hashed
Or in a knish, for extra rich;
No matter how they're baked or cooked
The dish will always comes out good;
From Heaven sent, for the gluten-free
Who indulge on potatoes -- home free!
A fast-food favorite, and very filling
Is french fries into ketchup dipping
Ketchup -- a tomato-based condiment
Stems from the American continent;
Offer ketchup when you serve spaghetti
Or else, they probably won't eat any;
Cook your meatballs -- minus sauce ...
Chance is high, they'll end up tossed;
Pizza is Italian? Not fully true --
That is'nt where, tomatoes first grew --
They do, indeed, serve no-cheese pizza,
But sans tomatoes, there ain't no pizza!
A sandwich begs tomato slices
Regardless if -- high, the price is,
Since only one or two suffices
Instead of a route to the Indies
Columbus discovered the Chilies;
First, they were shipped to the Asians;
From there, acquired by Caucasians;
What's your fave bell-pepper hue?
Red or orange, green (not blue)
Shiny yellow, or purple hue;
Very versatile, stir fried or grilled
Or cut up, fresh, in salad, chilled;
The people of the colored ponchos
Grew specimens like jalapeños
For folks -- whom it's their desire
To have their tongues feel like on fire;
No food prior could effect that
Though I don't 'get why' people want that
In the old world, avocados weren't around
High in calories and fat, all I could say is, wow!
It's like cooked food coming out of the ground!
Pineapple grew on Indian's ground,
With a leafy crown, and spiral gown,
And yellow pulp, so juicy and sweet --
No one else knew about this treat
The south is home to the unique passion fruit
Which tastes as good as it looks bad, which is cute
The familiar, garden strawberry
Is a north/south-blend variety;
Strawberry, chocolate, and even vanilla --
The flavor-threesome ALL hail from America!
Layered, in ice cream, it's called Neopolitan
Referencing Naples, a region Italian
Sweet potatoes is adult candy
When I eat them, my plate is emptied;
Paleo people subsist on special flour
Such as arrowroot and cassava powder
Cassava starch goes by the name tapioca;
All the above roots have roots in America
Sunflower seeds; and proliferate quinoa
Originated in American flora
Pecan is the nut I rate first place
And cashews rank high in taste;
Peanut allergy is indeed a dread
Though, jelly or not, most of us spread
Peanut butter on slices of bread;
No ifs about it, ands, or buts
We depend on peanuts and nuts
And all the above American food stuffs
That, thanks to G-d, traverses our guts
Copyright © Hannah Borke | Year Posted 2017
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