If not for the creamy herb chicken

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

60 thoughts on “If not for the creamy herb chicken

  1. 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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  2. Rommy says:

    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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rommy 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

    2. Jenna says:

      I feel the same, Rommy. I’ve been learning to harness my deep-feeling as a strength rather than being totally overwhelmed by it.

      1. Sanaa says:

        We do what we can, Jenna! 💄❤️

  3. 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!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ron 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  4. 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’.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so very much, Kim 😍 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  5. The chicken sounds absolutely scrumptious, and the philosophy is evocative. A pleasure from beginning to end!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Beverly 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  6. Helen says:

    I sank into your poetry just as wonderfully as I sank into that sofa. Cheers.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  7. Jim says:

    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.
    ..

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Jim 🙂 so good to see you 💄❤️

  8. gillena says:

    “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…

    1. Sanaa says:

      Absolutely 😀 thanks for stopping by, Gillena 💄❤️

      Happy Wednesday!

      much🌹love …

  9. Old Egg says:

    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!

    1. Sanaa says:

      ❤️❤️❤️

  10. No weakness in you, obviously!

  11. Rall says:

    Mouth watering poem !

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rall 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  12. Sara McNulty says:

    No one wants to be the cornstarch, that loses all its characteristics, if indeed it had any.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Sara 💄❤️

  13. 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.💙

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Merril 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️ It was wonderful seeing you at LIVE session too!

  14. msjadeli says:

    I liked hearing you read your lips poem tonight, Sanaa. The part about the spicy gentle pepper on lips stood out for me.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 it was wonderful to hear and see you as well 💄❤️

  15. 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. 🙂

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Jenna 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  16. Oh it’s delicious alright; hard to decide between this piece and the audio you presented at tonight’s OLN Live. Both very savory!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ron 😀 it was wonderful to hear and see you too at the LIVE session 💄❤️

  17. Mary Hood says:

    Oh, I love your delicious rebellion to blend in and not ‘fit in’.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Mary 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  18. 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

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  19. Helen says:

    I simply adore how you incorporated culinary expertise with poetry composition expertise …. AND I want to live in that room.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  20. James Feeney says:

    A meal and a message, Sanaa, all in one poem. Very creative and inventive structure to the poem. Well done. JIM

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, James 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  21. K.Hartless says:

    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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, K. Hartless 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  22. Ingrid says:

    ‘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 ❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  23. Marion Horton says:

    I love this Sanaa, the mouth watering food and the wonderfully expressed metaphors within.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Marion 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  24. Lillian says:

    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. 🙂

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, my dearest Lillian 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  25. Ken Gierke says:

    Thank you for this delightful recipe for happiness.

    1. Sanaa says:

      ❤️❤️❤️

  26. Punam says:

    Mmmm! Your words are delectable morsels just like the creamy herb chicken. 💞

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  27. Bjorn Rudberg says:

    Love how you layered the woes with the words of the recipe… I think we could solve a lot just by sharing a meal

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  28. Sunra Rainz says:

    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

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, my dearest Sunra 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  29. 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.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rosemarie 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

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