Poem No. 1   Salt

This morning I had a boiled egg for breakfast

My daughter forgot to bring me pepper and salt

It was difficult to swallow and my mind began

to think about salt – such a precious commodity

so important in culinary pursuits!

 

Loyalty is judged in some cultures by sayings:

“I have eaten your salt and I will always be true.”

Once I visited a rock salt mine

An ancient part of a mountain called Khewda Mine

In Pakistan – it is said that Alexander found it!

 

All the imported salt to the West is Khewda salt

But it is called ‘Red Indian Rock Salt’

The mine is massive and is brightly lit up

Has its trains, wagons and trucks

The salt glows in reds, yellows and golds.

 

It is an impressive art gallery

Even with a swing bridge across it

At Christmas time they have

Christmas trees and a crib

With Salt Mother Mary and Baby Jesus

 

The ingenuity of the carvers an amazing gift

by the Miners not paid extra to sculpt salt

in so many shapes, sizes and colours

The Michel Angelo’s of the Salt World

I left after buying a salt doll in three colours!

 

——-

Sundar