Food is a metaphor for ease; for lack of reserve
that comes only
when you have broken bread together,
grey skies with a light drizzle
as little ones gather around the table.
Pour in gold filled promises from the windowsill
and find
that breath knows not hesitation,
we offer a platter full to elders before
serving the same to ourselves.
I could never forget the taste of cardamom chai,
the chorus of heartbeats
and intimate conversations held in silence;
my lips turn a shade deeper
as I gaze inside winter’s poem, majestic in hue
and depth,
it’s the darkest parts of us which
when embraced
forsake the storm within.
“Garma garam parathay,” the mere suggestion
of flat, unleavened bread stuffed
with potatoes, sometimes cauliflower
or radish transports me to a different time,
every once in a while
we are confronted with who we used to be
and it isn’t always pleasing but
be with someone who values you and it can
be inspiring.
I don’t think there is anything that can replace
the emotion
that comes with semolina pudding
and soft fried dough,
count to three and listen
to the echoes— confessions thrumming with
and without
anguish into the room;
the human heart is battered and bruised
and oh so beautiful.
The light banter acts as cresting waves
as we delve into Mutton Nihari,
omelette,
orange juice or lassi,
why is it that having someone measure us
is harder than letting them go—
societal pressures that plague from generation
to generation
and yet, youth leaking out unguarded
seems to be the norm,
sort of like peanut butter,
nutella and jam
that span out across the canvass and envelop the sky—
may we never forget what year it was and why.
Photo credits: Brown and Gray Clay Serving Pots, Pexels.
Sarah hosts at dVerse and invites us to write a poem about food- about preparing
food or eating food; about family meals or posh restaurants; about the emotional
heft of a particular dish, the meaning that it brings to the table. Come join us! 💝
Posted for Tuesday Poetics – Food @dVerse Poets Pub
Food is such a point of connection! My favorite part of your poem is the part about cardamom chai.
Thank you so much, Jenna 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
There is something so special about traditional breakfasts, yours sound fantastic, but somehow we have also created some generic international breakfast with Nutella and such. Bring back traditions.
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I love what you’ve done here: blended all those heady tastes, sights and smells into a meditation on tradition and the tensions involved in breaking away from it!
“Garma garam parathay,” is a poem in itself! ❤️
Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Saana, I love this – so evocative of place and flavour. I’m interested that you chose breakfast – I always think it’s the most intimate meal, and the one where we tend to crave what we know. I love exploring new breakfasts! When we travelled in India and Pakistan (years ago, probably before you were born) I loved the different foods we encountered as we went from South to North – and chai is probably the thing I’d taste again if I could. I’ve tried it in the UK and it’s never been quite the same. Sigh.
It’s the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the prompt 😀 Oh wow, then you have a good idea what kind of food I am referring to here 🙂 Sigh .. I’d love to travel there both North and South. Thank you so much, Sarah 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Stunning lines:
“my lips turn a shade deeper
as I gaze inside winter’s poem, majestic in hue
and depth,
it’s the darkest parts of us which
when embraced
forsake the storm within.”
Wonderful poem, Sanaa. I enjoyed it very much.
Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Food and gathering, as tradition. Wonderful.
Thank you so much, Ken 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
For this wonderful poem, too, I imagined actress Helen Bonham-Carter reading it, and it was beautiful, with all the little pauses in all the right places, the whimsical notes…so lovely..
Thank you so much, Ain 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
You have successfully got me hungry Sanaa
A delightful poem
Much love…
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Much love back ..
the human heart is battered and bruised by so much of life.
for me food has been to much of a comfort. really njoyed this poem.
Thank you so much, Roger 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Oh delectably human work, Sanaa. A beautiful & moving poem. I esp appreciate Stanza 2 & how cardamum and chai amplify “the chorus of heartbeats / and intimate conversations held in silence;”
Food is really waaaay more than mere food, eh? It nourishes our humanity.
Thank you so much, Ron 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
It is so long since I have eaten semolina. We had it so often as children. Your poem was a true education for me. And how lovely your first stanza with an address to the elders.
Thank you so much, Benita 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Lovely memories and poem!
❤️❤️❤️
This is so beautiful Sanaa! I could see you enjoying all those foods and the fellowship of family surrounding it.
every once in a while
we are confronted with who we used to be…
Food can do that to us… take us back to another place and time!
Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
You’ve described the breakfast items and memories attached to it so well , Sanaa 🙂
Thank you so much, Kitty 🙂 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
This is wonderful Sanaa! Such a feast.
Thank you so much, Kate 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Please invite me over for breakfast – this sounds AMAZING, Sanaa!
<3
David
Thank you so much, David 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I’m go for biryani with a nice cup of chai! 🙂 Mouth watering….
❤️❤️❤️
Food is such a bond. I enjoyed the spread you laid out, then was awed by the manner in which you capped it.
that span out across the canvass and envelop the sky—
may we never forget what year it was and why.
Thank you so much, Reena 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I really love the juxtaposition of food and intimacy and deep introspection, food as metaphor, fabnulous poem Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Paul 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Nutella and peanut butter have certainly become a most detestable norm. Your ‘real’ food is infinitely more interesting.
Thank you so much, Jane 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Beautifully written.
❤️❤️❤️
You completely envelope the atmosphere of one experiencing a family dinner full of traditions and love.
Thank you so much, Dana 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Love your message of food and traditions. They are always intertwined.
Thank you so much, Sara 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Your aubade really is a morning love song – the food and the memories evoked are wonderfully brought to life.
Thank you so much, Marion 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
This is the perfect mix of concrete food nouns that capture the senses and evocative language. I love this.
Thank you so much, JYP 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️