Simmered in a flavorful and creamy herb sauce with a hint of garlic on a weekday is deliberation; why is there always a deep shade of melancholy on the windowsill? I coat the chicken breasts with onion and herbs, season generously with salt and pepper. The intellect chooses its own social gathering; I chew upon this piece of information as the concoction no longer pink inside heats with another two teaspoons of olive oil and sauté garlic with basil and oregano— there are people who are generic, they exist within their own limitations and shun the ones who seem even a little bit different— I am a rebel, I thought, adding cream; I refuse to be in the center of the pan like cornstarch, quickly stirring, until acceptance like sauce has thickened slightly—explore the world, so often it happens that creative minds due to societal pressure limit themselves. I return the chicken to the skillet, sprinkle with extra herbs and serve immediately— there are moments when one has to decide between following destiny and fulfilling its purpose or succumbing to the vengeful, the demented and the sadists who work together to form an organized conspiracy to oppress others in the world. Remember, to feel deeply is not a sign of weakness, it’s a medium that sets us apart in society—so much so that when whispers of approval or contempt float across the room; you will know— "if not for the creamy herb chicken."
Photo credits: Guest House by Yakira Eppel, Unsplash
Posted on Weekly Scribblings @Poets and Storytellers United
Also Posted on Open Link LIVE: October Edition @dVerse Poets Pub
Oh, how delicious! (Pun intended.) Wonderful as metaphor; also I’d love to be invited to dinner!
And of course, I am always on the side of the rebels who refuse to succumb.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Feeling deeply has often been stigmatized as weakness. Though admittedly there are sometimes I wish I didn’t do it quite so often, I’ve have plenty more times where I’ve felt blessed to feel so strongly.
Thank you so much, Rommy 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I feel the same, Rommy. I’ve been learning to harness my deep-feeling as a strength rather than being totally overwhelmed by it.
We do what we can, Jenna! 💄❤️
I read this before breakfast. Big mistake.
Now I’m hungrier than ever, and motivated to try to write something even half as good. Salute!
Thank you so much, Ron 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Oh, you temptress, Sanaa, I’ve only just had lunch! Although I don’t eat chicken, your creamy herb chicken is so enticing. I love the way you scattered emotions and human conditions throughout the poem, such as ‘why is there always a deep shade of melancholy / on the windowsill?’ and ‘to feel deeply is not a sign of weakness’.
Thank you so very much, Kim 😍 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
The chicken sounds absolutely scrumptious, and the philosophy is evocative. A pleasure from beginning to end!
Thank you so much, Beverly 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I sank into your poetry just as wonderfully as I sank into that sofa. Cheers.
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I liked all your dishes, Sanaa, but none would be on my favorites to eat list. Simple but very clever was corn starch, stirring, and the center of the pan.
My favorite was “… is deliberation; why is there always a deep shade of melancholy
on the windowsill?” I love your relationshop establishment.
And what an ingredient list for creamy herb chicken, it is always good.
I believe the cooperation between all “the demented and the sadists who work together to…”
You did sooo very well with your prompt, thank you for it.
..
Thank you so much, Jim 🙂 so good to see you 💄❤️
“why is there always a deep shade of melancholy
on the windowsill?”
I think cooking is a great way to lift one’s spirits
Happy Wednesday Sanaa
much love…
Absolutely 😀 thanks for stopping by, Gillena 💄❤️
Happy Wednesday!
much🌹love …
After writing such a mouth watering piece Sanaa we are now all waiting for an invitation to a meal for you have beguiled us all!
❤️❤️❤️
No weakness in you, obviously!
😉
Mouth watering poem !
Thank you so much, Rall 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
No one wants to be the cornstarch, that loses all its characteristics, if indeed it had any.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Sara 💄❤️
It was so good to see you today and hear you read your romance, Sanaa–you always bring joy– but this poem is wonderful, too. I love
“why is there always a deep shade of melancholy on the windowsill?” It seems particularly suited to autumn (which it is here). Your last lines are so very powerful! And yes, I so agree.💙
Thank you so much, Merril 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️ It was wonderful seeing you at LIVE session too!
I liked hearing you read your lips poem tonight, Sanaa. The part about the spicy gentle pepper on lips stood out for me.
Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 it was wonderful to hear and see you as well 💄❤️
Oh, I love this! The description, the message! I like how the words “limit themselves” are in a very short line by themselves. It fits well. 🙂
Thank you so much, Jenna 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Oh it’s delicious alright; hard to decide between this piece and the audio you presented at tonight’s OLN Live. Both very savory!
Thank you so much, Ron 😀 it was wonderful to hear and see you too at the LIVE session 💄❤️
Oh, I love your delicious rebellion to blend in and not ‘fit in’.
Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
You did a wonderful job of intertwining the cooking of chicken with the workings of the mind… The chicken sounds delicious… and so do your words…
Remember, to feel deeply is not a sign of weakness,
it’s a medium that sets us apart in societyd
Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I simply adore how you incorporated culinary expertise with poetry composition expertise …. AND I want to live in that room.
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
A meal and a message, Sanaa, all in one poem. Very creative and inventive structure to the poem. Well done. JIM
Thank you so much, James 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Thinking just how much we need that sauce to simmer and for acceptance to spread. I truly enjoyed this “chicken” poem and also the romantic poem you shared this afternoon. Really great to hear your voice.
Thank you so much, K. Hartless 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
‘so often it happens that creative minds due to societal pressure
limit themselves’ – so sad but true! I beautifully sensuous poem with a deeper level of meaning. It was a delight to hear you read last night ❤️
Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I love this Sanaa, the mouth watering food and the wonderfully expressed metaphors within.
Thank you so much, Marion 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Sooo glad we had you read the romantic poem on LIVE….because now I find I can hear you read this one too, right here!
This is such an amazing piece of writing….it’s as if the chef/cook is pondering deep questions of life while stirring, cooking, etc. Isn’t that the way it is? Sometimes when we’re doing a task that takes time, takes doing it slowly, our mind wanders to other things.
“I refuse to be in the center of the pan like cornstarch,
quickly stirring,
until acceptance like sauce has thickened slightly—explore the world,”
Then….this delightful passage where the chef jumps right in the pan, so to speak!
This is just a wonderful piece. 🙂
Thank you so much, my dearest Lillian 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Thank you for this delightful recipe for happiness.
❤️❤️❤️
Mmmm! Your words are delectable morsels just like the creamy herb chicken. 💞
Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Love how you layered the woes with the words of the recipe… I think we could solve a lot just by sharing a meal
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I enjoyed your thought process throughout this, Sanaa! Lots of tasty morsels of brain food! My favourite lines:
“why is there always a deep shade of melancholy on the windowsill?” – this gives rise to such a choice of images!
“The intellect chooses its own social gathering;” – agreed!
“Remember, to feel deeply is not a sign of weakness,” – and hence, poetry is born!
<3
Thank you so much, my dearest Sunra 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
the shift from flavors to the gloom of reality and how it affects ones emotion is so so smoothly done, Sanaa. left me wanting a creamy herbed chicken.
Thank you so much, Rosemarie 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️