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Poetry Friday-The Chef and the Poet

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Sometimes poets like to compare things. Often they write about the simple and familiar things of this world in order to alert the reader to new perspectives and possibilities. A thing that is familiar might be used to highlight a connection to something else...


And so, as I sat in my favourite Italian cafe, 'Il Piccolo,' writing in my notebook while sipping on a morning coffee, I began to ponder on the connection between the work of my friend, Joshua,  the chef and me, the poet. This is what emerged...


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A TASTE FOR POETRY

A poem for Joshua Noonan


The chef and the poet are makers
The knife and the pen
The tools of their creation
Each held deftly in the hand

The chef adds a pinch of pepper to season the soup
The poet adds a dash of word lightning to end the line

Each in their own way,
Make splendid use of ingredients

-herbs and spices
-rhythm and rhyme

Metaphor, simile
Sage and thyme

Flavour and tang
Infuse the mix
Juicy verbs fraternize
The source delights

Words spill across the page
With deliberate intent
Sweet aromas mingle
Zesty ingredients impart flavour

Plate and page 
Reveal the magical outcomes
Of these creative pursuits

The chef and the poet are makers.

Alan j Wright


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Comments

  1. Your poem is a lovely marinating of two creative pursuits! I love the sounds of

    herbs and spices
    rhythm and rhyme

    metaphor, simile
    sage and thyme

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love the use of the word marinating in your response Joyce. How appropriate...
      Glad you also noticed the sound of certain words. We read with our ears as well as our eyes. Thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated.

      Delete
  2. Yes, your poem is filled with delicious observations in its comparisons. I especially liked the end: plate and page reveal the magical outcomes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kay. I have been observing Joshua's work in the kitchen for many years. This made the task of 'making' the poem just that bit easier. The secret to successful cooking is the 'preparation.' I feel it's the same for poetry.

      Delete
  3. What a lovely blending of cooking and poetry writing. Thanks for adding this dash to our Poetry Friday soup!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sylvia. The poem was indeed a blending job. Glad you appreciated it.

      Delete

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