The Poetry Marathon

24 Poem’s “The Dinner Party”

Chef’s Speech

Before we proceed to dessert

I would like to say a few words

And allow you a burp break

I speak of course in self-effacing words

Thank you all so much for coming

And bringing the requested wines

Adding the organized recklessness

Of this experiment in gastronomical terror of matching wine

Once again I remind you

Not to feel obligated to finish courses abundantly

It is just a taste experience

I thank you all again, abundantly

I might I add

It was so much fun making my final decisions

And I apologize to those I missed

England, Colombia, Brazil, Hungary, German and the U.S.A… decisions decisions

Take as long as you’d like

Enjoy a drink or a glass of water

Before we honour Hawaii

That beautiful tiny land surrounded by water

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 Poems: “The Dinner Party”

The Irish Stewing

In France it’s Boeuf Bourgignon

In Hungary it’s Goulash so hearty

And Belgium, Carbonnade a la Flamande

But in Ireland, it’s just stew, still hearty

One simmered in wine

The other a paprika smother

The other in golden beer

But this is a Guinness smother

Sadly, the alcohol dissipates as it simmers

Yet, the deep robust flavor remains

The beef will be fork-tender

And there likely will be no remains

The waxy potatoes

and sweetness of parsnips and carrots

I ne’er forget the deglazing

This is grand exalted my guest of carrot

There were looks of concern

So many stomachs full

Did I serve too much

But my confidence is full

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 Poems: “The Dinner Party”

Creamy Cheddar Soup

One might call this typically Canadian

Mild and quaint in simplicity

Unlike some of the guests however

Unduly lacking in simplicity

It almost lathers when it’s stirred

This orange pond of gold

Like a swim in a buttery lake

Like winning a pot o’ gold

It’s rather filling though

So I tell my guests to know

That they only need to sample

Avoiding over-stuffedness well-known

The humourist prepared a thought

It could have been served with nachos, he said

Some nodded, others in suffering face

Well-spoken, I sportingly said

A Vineland Estates Riesling

Or perhaps a Muskoka Lager

As long as it’s national

Like a sparkling spring cold lager

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 Poems: “The Dinner Party”

Almond Delight

The highlight might be Marcona

That almond so buttery

Reminiscent of a bakery

As I begin to receive buttery

The flavor of Chorizo

after its apple cider bath

and a fine selection of greens

pure from their cold-water spaying bath

The Manchego cheese

Of herringbone rind

induced by a woven mold of grass

the praise, a layer for my thin rind

The audience seems to be hearty

In filling their bowls

Flexing their appetite muscles

And continuing the laughter in bowls

That tangy red onion

A flash of enticing hue

With enticing Tempranillo

The faces a pinkish hue

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 Poems: “The Dinner Party”

Spicy Tagine

All those spices together

What an exotic complexion they create

While the lemon zest and garlic linger

Such a pungent air it creates

The gently browned chicken

Infused with lemons astringency

Melting in their mouths

I admit, I smiled with astringency

The caramelization

And those glorious pan scrapings so sticky

Still paused on the plates

As things began to get sticky

The tagine tower

Rising above the table of plenty

gentle steam rising

Blessing air of plenty

A brief sojourn to Morocco

Embodying the spirit

What does this spiciness announce

But the glass-tapping spirit

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 poems  “The Dinner Party”

Potage Parmentier

The Pratsch Rose

Was passed around

To invoke the gentle potage

As in the kitchen, I danced around

I asked for a consensus

Hot or cold I inquired, a decision tricky

Five for hot, three for cold

That made it tricky

But fortunately it was already cool

So the warming was fast

As I hopped to the table

To this festive unfast

Popular comments

Many pertaining to the piquancy

that forgotten taste of parsnip

As I said “Cheers” with such piquancy

Our journey to France was a win

The herbal blends its notoriety

The final slurps from the bowl

Guaranteeing notoriety

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 Poems, “The Dinner Party”

Greek Salad

A popular treat

So creativity was a must

And the quality of ingredients

A personally sampled must

Olives of Kalamata

With their smooth meaty fabric

Robust and oily

Pleasing the meal’s fabric

The teeth squeezed the grape tomatoes

With a hopeful squirt

So they all challenged on another

As I laughed with a squirt

The feta cheese

Was a concern for me

So I procured the sheep’s milk style

The modest perfection in me

Avocados were the final touch

Like a peach in their bite

And a colour of sublimity

Joining the cucumber’s bite

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 Poems: “The Dinner Party”

Krabbsmorgas

That beginning roux

Then a yolk and cream

Stirred until silky

For a catalyst cream

Alas, when mixed with sherry

Dill salt and pepper

Presented on thinly sliced Vetebröd

Now their feeling so pepper

There was a spritely glee

For the lightness and sweetness

And pastry-like texture

Smiles of sweetness

Dare I say it wasn’t perfect

But I’m not sure if anyone knew

The fine pale wine

Reassured what they knew

A very pleasant introduction

To the next courses ahead

And all the joy

That will tickle through our heads

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

24 poems: “The Dinner Party”

The Latest News and the Bell

everyone standing

a drink in hand

one with green tea

I dare not take a stand

so many stories

some I might call gossip

but it’s always important

some almost shocking, Gosh!… sip

This is very good wine

who bought it, someone asks

it was I, a well-heard voice replies

which one is that I ask

there is talk of local politics

some regarding south of the border chaos too

that could go on for quite a while

but lo and behold, there’s Covid-19 too

there is solicitude in the air

an omen of immediacy

and a voice, trying to sound like a bell

]You may all take your seats, immediately

DeaBeePea  6-27-20

Greetings

A van and a coupe

and even a bicycle

parking on the sidestreet

my eyes spinning like a groundless bicycle

I hear the first knock

and open the door

checking my apron

as my rather large foot, stumbles against the door

A smile and hug

and into my hand

a slimline bottle of Trius riesling

I give her a hand

in a matter of minutes

two more arrived

some with bowed offerings

’tis the season, it’s arrived

the last one is late, but only by five

apologetic, but I console

the invite is for five

but I’m not serving till five-forty-five; consoled