Food of the Gods

A birthday tribute

Is such an

ordinary thing

as a candle

on a chocolate cake

enough to mark

and celebrate

the occasion

of your birthday?

 

I suppose

if you consider

the hands it took

to plough the earth

in which the seeds

became the wheat

nourished by the

rain and sun

surviving weeds

and pest attack

harvested by

precisely engineered

mechanical machinery.

This wheat then

processed into grain

and travelled

courtesy of roads

to factories where

more machines

and hands pack

flour into bags

made from paper

pulped from trees

while somewhere

distant sugar cane

matures and ripens

in the sun

stalks are being

washed and cut

pulverized and crystallized

filtered and refined.

Free range hens

are laying eggs,

cacao trees

produce their pods

containing beans

“food of the gods”

in trunks and lower branches. 

The cows that graze

and eat the hay

fed to them 10

times a day

making milk

and frothy cream

which beaten

becomes butter.

The buildings

that become the

shops where

groaning shelves

are packed with

goods we idly

place in conveniently

shaped metal

carts and baskets.

 

So now as I

look at this cake

a simple sponge

baked everyday

all humble looking

on a plate

it’s me that’s

feeling humbled.

What better way

to celebrate the

wonder of  you

being here

than feasting

on this marvellous

collaborative confection.

Reviews

[Meh]

I'm glad it wasn't a vegan sponge or you would have lost half your poem.

I like (the poem and cake) but somehow the very last line jarred. I know it alliterates an all but it sounded a bit like a Victorian health tonic salesman saying 'Roll up, roll up-sample Waldo's Collaborative Confection!' I have a feeling I might be alone on that point though...

[there is no more from m..]

An Amazing truley Amazing Poem well done

[Patient Poet (Yos)]

OK .... WOW!! ... What a unique idea and beautiful writting, thats the kind of writinig I am looking for, smart, with unique idea that make you think, yes, even when you look on a simple cake , Bravooo Yossi

[An owl on the moon]

I loved this poem! Taking what might seem common and making it into the richest of foods! Such a tribute and lifting work!!! Thank you!!!

[Jamie S.]

I didn't think that I could appreciate a big chunk of chocolate anymore than I already do but , you succeeded in hightening it! You put alot of thought into this one, kudos!

[PianoandPage]

a very cool poem. i love your use of sparing allitation throughout which gave it a nice tone.

this is a great tribute indeed. this makes me think of how deceptive the phrase "the small things in life" is because really when you break down the stories behind the ingredients it isn't "just a cake" ... it's life itself rearranged as chocolate and candle flame.

very nicely ended too.

[Brjden (Bridge-Den) Cre..]

Very different from what I'm used to with you, but I'm merely a new fan of yours. I enjoyed the write and I saw where you were going very early on. This was very smart and intelligent and thorough as you take us through the process. Good write April......

[SPINNING ON that dizzy ..]

Oh - thank you for giving me a reason to love cake! It must have been that someone way back when said - let me give my most favorite thing to someone to help celebrate the anniversary of their birth. Your nearly magical description of the items (ingredients) was it in time to the beaters blending the cake? Just a nice bit of whimsey as well.... good one.

Kath

[Michael X]

this is awsome and really takes the reader on a beginning to end journey, and what it means to appreciate the moment for the happiness it brings reflects a reletive insight that in many ways humbles the heart.
the birthday meaning colors the greeting with subtle shades of admiration, beautifully done and fun to read