I always chop the olives by hand.
I like a rough chop that says
someone still cares about
the preparation of food instead
of settling for little identically
square bits popped out by a
steel thing attached to a cord
that gives it life.
The knife and I give new life to these
olives; messy, uneven life such
as it is. The earthy texture of the
black and the pungency of the green will
soon mix with onion, pimento and the
special piquant of a home-canned Gardiniera.
Aaron Neville croons "Tell It Like It Is"
in my ear as I chop in time to the beat,
the heft of the knife comfortable in
my hand, the flesh of the olives
relenting to the steel determination
of the blade.
14
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Published in Scissors and Spackle, Issue 12
There should be more food prep poetry!
I enjoyed this, especially
"The knife and I give new life to these
olives".
Nice C!
Especially liked- "as I chop in time to the beat,/the heft of the knife comfortable in/my hand, the flesh of the olives/relenting to the steel determination/of the blade."
***
Very nice indeed. Like being right in the kitchen with you.
I could worry you are chopping them with great speed and this dazzling display ends badly, like the Ackroyd parody of Julia, but I'm good at compartmentalizing my fears. *
olive this.
:)
"Lucsious"
Is it spelled that way on purpose...or is it supposed to be "Luscious"...
Thanks to all for your kind comments and time.
I ALWAYS freaking misspell that word! You'd think I'd finally remember how to spell it. Thanks, Sally and Carol!! xo
"The knife and I give new life to these
olives; messy, uneven life such
as it is."
Really cool stuff going on here!
I like the detail and rhythm very much.
Thank you, Darryl and Gary. Your input means a lot.
*, Charlotte. Nice work. I'd like to hear this one read aloud.
I appreciate that, David! While I have recorded a few MP3's of my work, I'm not very adept at it.
"I'm not very adept at it."
You know, there *are* ways to remedy that...
;-)
I've heard a couple of your recordings, Charlotte. You have a wonderful low clear voice. I certainly enjoyed listening.
Matt, I still have all the info you sent, just no time yet to follow up. :(
BTW, I'm enjoying those tunes immensely. Will email soon.
Carol, thanks! So sweet of you to say.
Vivid writing.*
I enjoyed the read.
Thank you, Amanda and Sam.
...the steel determination of the blade.*
Thanks for reading, Gary!
Knife, food, purposeful.
What's not to love?
Thanks, JLD!
Great food piece. Especially like how music enters the poem.
Thank you, Sam. This really happened. :)
Enjoyed! *
I'm glad, Brenda. Thanks for reading. I love it when I have a new reader and also when I can reciprocate by reading their work.