Saturday, March 9, 2013

chopsticks




our culture differences boil down to
rice vs potato
my choice chips with a hit of jalapeno, kettle

you pass the sweet and sour and
sake, i continue mashing
uncle ben until he
resembles instant flakes - then top with a square or two
of butter

"soy sauce?"
"no, thank you"

"we are not meant, " i add
"to live on rice alone"

my chopsticks sit in silence, refusing
involvement

"that was bread not rice,"  your lips whisper

i revisit scripture
you take notice, "change is good," adding fire

"but i am Irish" adamant

"well stated," completing  "and i, i am
laughing Buddha"...

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2013


Posted for Real Toads - Poets in the Kitchen


30 comments:

  1. I like the cultural differences in food & nuances in the conversation ~ Perhaps if not involvement or a compromise, a respect for the differences ~

    I enjoyed your unique interpretation on food & subtle take on the relationship as well ~

    Thank you for participating in Real Toad's Sunday Challenge and wishing you Happy weekend ~

    Grace

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    1. Thank you Grace for stopping in...Happy weekend to you as well...bkm

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  2. Thanks for comments Sabio the wisdom of rice wins over meat and potatoes here. Sometimes we just do not want to accept what is good for us...bkm

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    1. LOL -- but to tell you the truth, I love both dishes, and their wisdom. ;-)

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  3. ha. i think i would take the chips with the hint of jalepeno...change is good though...some better for us than others...i like that the chopsticks are staying out of this one...smiles.

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  4. Ah, the beauty of diversity :)

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    1. Thank goodness my husband is baked potato all the way...bkm

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  5. We can learn from each other ... and perhaps sample, at times, what is on their plate? Well done! (Love that photo of Robert Frost - am reading a book of his poetry right now :)

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  6. hahahaha!!! Pass the Irish cream please.

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    1. A bit of Irish creme to toast the Emerald Isle...bkm

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  7. You say so much about relationships - similarities and differences - while describing a simple meal. Change is good, but some things will always remain the same.

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    1. Hard to change the staples in ones life.. Thank you Kerry...bkm

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  8. Rice vs potato: an endless discussion, endlessly repeated, with no end in sight, but a staple when other dinner conversation lapses.
    Well done!
    K

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  9. We sit at your table of diversity and listen to the back and forth...what a delightful piece!

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  10. This made me smile. I love the conversation you provided and the diversity of food at your table. I will take the rice. LOL.

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    1. Oh Mary you would take the healthy choice..thank you...bkm

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  11. What a unique take on this prompt. I love how the whole of it is shared though dialogue. Also, the motionless image of chopsticks, very effective.

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    1. A lot of conversation is poetry -we only have to listen ..thank you...bkm

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  12. I enjoy the tone in this...the inner and outer conversation...the laughing Buddha...excellent poem and the food implementing is nice and subtle. :)

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  13. I would choose the rice, my chopsticks ever active

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  14. nicely done. There's really a neat thought/image in each line here. we are not meant to live on rice alone and I revisit scripture…change is good, in particular. Thanks

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  15. This is a lovely piece, well spun. This line is particularly awesome, and telling:

    "my chopsticks sit in silence, refusing
    involvement"


    de
    whimsygizmo.wordpress.com

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  16. You say so much about connections, resemblances and variations while explaining a simple food. Maybe you can also add the chopsticks as it is two sticks put together.

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