Ingredients

Homework assignment to write on the theme of "recipes"

My aunt says, any food

With seasoning is too fancy

ketchup and salt are good enough

for her. My friend eats pizza daintily

with fork, knife, and caution,

as if it may bite back, he says

he does not like to risk getting dirty.

Myself, I do not want a life

without flavor, a love without mess or danger.

I think of my beloved as I toss

herbs, and vegetables, into

the stock pot- ginger and onion

for health, chicken for strength,

flavor because I love him,

warmth for long cold nights

when sickness and the news

make us nervous. We cook because

we love the world, as the Creator

loves us. I explore

other countries through recipes

the way a traveler collects songs

from old bars and shepherds

and women who shared a few nights.

I like messy sauces and juices,

soaking the bread, bleeding into

the potato, running down my hands

and chin, bursting with 100 flavors

and 100 different memories

of sharing a meal in unusual places.

I prepare food with garlic, chili, and

a dozen other things because

at the end of all things,

we remember the friend who sat

with us in the dark

we cherish the love that tied us

to the bed, and read us poetry

we live for the days too precious

for words, we savor

the flavors that made us lick our lips

in anticipation, that we tore into

with hands and teeth and soul,

that made us glad to be alive.

Love tastes a lot like that recipe

you spent a lifetime perfecting

and two days preparing.

Reviews

[Paul]

So essentially, you get what foodies are saying. You're different than I am, as I like my food kind of plain. I slap some meat on some bread and throw a bunch of mayo on it, and I'm good. It's cool that you get creative with food, though. I'm not too into strange blends. It's cool that you mention significant others. Boom Chaka laka!