He calls me weird because I like cheese
on my hotdog, slaw on my burger.
When the fire dies down, I pour lighter
fluid on the charcoal pyramid, blacken
my chicken. He tells me I burn all the
flavor, but he’s never had salmon coated
in butter, a mix of paprika, cayenne pepper,
salt, onion and garlic powder sprinkled on
both sides, charred in a cast iron skillet.
I take him down South where the Spanish
moss grows heavy. We dip our toes in the
bayou, and he says I’m crazy not to fear
the gators, but we catch them and fry them
like chicken, dip in buttermilk ranch and
pop them in our mouths. In the morning,
I’ll show him how to sauté Cajun shrimp,
garnish it over sharp cheddar grits. He’ll
learn cheese goes on everything, and
nothing he’s eaten before ever tasted better.
—Nortina
#frapalymo (the German version of NaPoWriMo) is hosted by FrauPaulchen and translated from German into English by Bee at Just Fooling Around With Bee. The double prompt for yesterday & today is: “normal” and “crazy.”
Lovely Curses 
This poem provides a sensory experience for me. I just ate lunch and I’m hungry all over again.
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I have to admit I made myself hungry writing it too!
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Really well interesting and fascinating to me. A culture I don’t know much of. Do you know how alligator tastes? Is it fishy? I don’t like fish but I just might try a bite of alligator. Better him than me 🙂 Beautifully written Nortina.
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Thanks Mandi! I’ve actually never eaten alligator before, but I’ve heard it tastes like chicken . . . possibly even better than chicken.
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You got some talent, homegirl! I love this poem! Reminds me of my roots….
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Thanks! I love Southern food. There’s nothing better.
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a link to a food poem, kinda..https://thisismypoetryblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/april-4-2014-a-charm-for-all-that-ails/
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