The leek will sit with pride upon that hat;
and, yes, a daffodil’s another plant.
The two are often worn, so let us chat
about St David’s Day – or Dewi Sant.
This prelate was a Christian and we know
he was a bishop and the son of Non,
and grandson of a king, said to be so,
that king, we’re told, of Ceredigion.
St David will be found within stained glass.
There’s also a cathedral named for him.
It’s hard to miss St David as we pass
and some will even hum a well-known hymn.
Ah yes, we rather like the daffs and leeks,
could wear the daffs or eat those leeks for weeks.
(1 March 2025)
(appeared in Carmarthen, Wales, UK, library on 1 March, which is St David's Day, St D being the Patron Saint of Wales, d. 589 AD)
I've heard that cantaloupes can't elope
It's against their moral code
And rhubarbs are NOT allowed to argue
Lettuce entertain you
I've heard that people sometimes turnip and pea
Not a very classy bunch I must say!
When you give somebody a raspberry it's very rude
Had another good one but it got squashed
Gourd won't let me make fun of his name
Grapes are not allowed to gripe
Bet you're not wild about figs... that figures
If you take a leek in a supermarket
Security will beet you on the melon
When the cashier picks up your fruit
It's okay to say, “that's a nice pear you have there”
If you give a horse a radish, they'll spit it back at you
I don't see what they've got to grape about
Okay that one was kinda corny
Cauliflowers are pretty in the spring
...beets me
give me your aorta ~ and in exchange i will give you a nice pulse
said the kidney bean to a cabbage heart ~ as it openly convulsed
but the black eyed peas protested violently ~ acting with impulse
of course i needed a leek pretty bad ~ and suddenly felt repulsed
The memory span of the average sprout
Means he forgets why the light is out
If life in a fridge will be life without end
Never forget that the dark is your friend
*
And hidden away in a refrigerator
A brave little sprout needs no invigilator
He’d tucked himself between some beans and a leek
And went undiscovered throughout Christmas week
But now that the trifle and cheeses aren’t there
The fridge is beginning to feel rather bare
The spaces within have become wide agape
With few nooks and crannies in which to escape
He’s watched as his friends were all taken and eaten
But this little sprout was too brave to be beaten
He may be just one single sprout, small and green
But he can be ruthless and ever so mean
He knew that the sound of the footsteps nearby
Meant somebody sharing his fridge could soon die
But he’ll stop at nothing for self preservation
He pushed the leek forward without hesitation
It’s dark in the fridge which should aid his concealment
And save him the sight of leftovers congealment
He thought he’d be safe in the darkness inside…
But screamed like a bean when the door opened wide!
I have an in-born low immunity against cold,
so, when my nose ran lose and mucus rolled,
my mother used to make for me everyday
lemon coriander soup I liked, I would say.
Using mother’s recipe I now cook this soup a lot
with celery, onion, cabbage and carrot
as the primary vitamin C-rich ingredient,
combined with garlic, parsley and leek for scent.
A dash of lemon juice and a bit of sugar
make the soup appetizingly sweet and sour.
With floating coriander leaves and pinch of pepper,
the clear soup turns deliciously tangy and a gripper.
When I am down with cold and a bad cough,
this soup gives me great relief in times tough.
Savoring it piping hot bowlful at dinner with delight,
makes me feel warm and cozy in chilly winter night.
ERWTENSOEP
Split peas, sometimes with ham
This soup served in Amsterdam
Smoked pork belly, sausage too
Served nice and hot will just do
Carrot, onion, leek and celeriac
The thought of it takes me back
This combination did it for me
When I worked there in ‘83
Breakfast was always uitsmijter
Smiled at the girl just to spite her
Eggs and ham on fresh bread
Ordered early to stay ahead
Coffee drunk all through the day
Strong to handle come what may
A cold beer or two over lunch
With those little crisps to crunch
With meetings in the afternoon
I did my thing none too soon
Dinner was typically Indonesian
Sometimes influenced by Frisian
Rijsttafel, a surprise in every bowl
But delicious food always the goal
Elsewhere, desserts are plentiful
Big portions seem quite bountiful
But if I had just one item to order
Every time I crossed that border
It would be erwtensoep, every time
Everyday Dutch cuisine in its prime
Whatever kind of café I was ever in
I’d wash it down with ice cold gin
Roy went an extra mile last week
while traveling from Stoke to Leek
by high-speed rail (First-Class, off-peak).
In truth, a little more;
It was an extra sixty-three
he ended up in Oswestry;
decided to explore and see;
He’d never been before.
He saw the castle and the keep;
It is one way to travel cheap;
to board a train then fall asleep;
(the secret’s not to snore).
"Peek-a-boo," Chucky said to me
Seek and hide, we played
Meek was I when I hid
Leek I smelled as Chucky swayed.
Agile Chucky prowled inside the house
Fragile was I when I shrugged
Tactile is he whenever he talks to me
Ductile was the glass floors when Chucky got mad and thugged.
On Sundays, Welsh wives go to chapel
Each one of them ready to grappel
Not for an hymn book
Nor Minister's look
They just want a bite of Eve's apple!
Daffodils grow out the back of my head.
I wish they were purple tulips instead.
My job pays well, but I don’t make as much as Leek.
I lament this fact, ruining part of my week.
My family is good, but Kim’s seems better.
I spend my life grousing, jealous of my sister’s sweater.
Crazy I know, and yet here I sit, irritated more than a little bit.
That my brother’s having a better life. This griping I have to quit!
Pages of white lust
are recalling Summer moons
tugging a retreating
roar. God of Insanity:
objects personified shaped
to impact reason
in his senseless world.
Hands reach within closed eyelids-
chis luring the heart.
Cancerous pain seeps,
then tunnels. A maroon creek
rushing through sand-colored
walls of leek-like tissue.
It is winding, and ebbing,
pushing the thunderous
beat of muscle welded,
torched by the pagan Creator.
His opaque waves swirl
around his electric
magnetic manisfestation:
sun- like core of life.
Pages of white lust
are recalling Summer moons
tugging a retreating
roar. God of Insanity:
objects personified shaped
to impact reason
in his senseless world.
Hands reach within closed eyelids-
chis luring the heart.
Cancerous pain seeps,
then tunnels. A maroon creek
rushing through sand-colored
walls of leek-like tissue.
It is winding, and ebbing,
pushing the thunderous
beat of muscle welded,
torched by the pagan Creator.
His opaque waves swirl
around the electric
magnetic manisfestation:
sun- like core of life.
A Vegetable Story
Broccoli, Spinach, yummy fresh Garden Peas,
Cabbages, Winter Greens, Cauliflower Trees.
Runner Beans and broad, Mange Tout so Francais,
Curly Kale, Crunchy Sprouts on a cold windy day.
Onions, Parsnips, Carrots and tall Welsh Leek,
King Edwards, Purple Turnip, ready next week.
Corn cut off the cob with sweet Barley Rice,
Mash up that Swede for a treat savour nice.
Tips of Asparagus are one acquired taste,
Into the soup, don’t let them go to waste.
Vegetable Squash with Butternut and Pumpkin,
Tearing Sour dough bread, ready for dunking.
Please don’t choke on a strange looking Arti’
Exclusively reserved for a Vegan style party.
Try some boiled Beet and a large slice of Yam,
Fennel is soporific, a bit like I am.
Parsley and Cress make a simple garnish,
Spring Onion and Celery, very Saladish.
Going to the wood, picking wild Mushroom,
Beware some are poison, Stomach-ache of doom.
Lots of choice for a Veggie style life,
No need for meat, no need of a knife.
Don’t want to preach, so my voice is on mute,
That’s all from the Veg, lets start on the Fruit.
Green
Rippling
Appearance
Sinuous and
Sleek
Scales
Nestle
As tongue flicks
Keen to taste the
Earth
19.03.19
Light Up The Page 3 Poetry Contest - sponsored by Joseph May
onions
garlic
fine white win
butternut
squash
quince and mince
leek
scallops
clotted cream
turkey stuffed
pastry puffed
chives give hives
people gaseous
pissed
nauseous
happy holidays to all
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