Poem: "The Kitchen Goddesses"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This poem is from the August 7, 2012 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by prompts from ravan, moonwolf1988, and rhodielady_47.  It has been sponsored by scribble_myname.

The Kitchen Goddesses

Caffeina holds a coffee bean
above her head with two hands,
while her other two hands
hold a coffee pot and a coffee mug.
Her black hair ripples down
over her copper skin,
her smile pale as latte foam.

Chocolata is lighter,
skin the color of milk chocolate
and curls the color of dark chocolate,
teeth square as little marshmallows.
She holds a candy bar, a cookie,
a cup of cocoa, and a Tootsie Roll wand.

Nilla is fair as a fairy-tale princess,
all peaches-and-cream skin
with hazel eyes pale as almond honey
and white-blond hair but oh,
those spiral curls never came out of Europe.
In her hands she holds
a vanilla bean and vanilla wafers,
a carton of ice cream and a scoop.

They are the kitchen goddesses,
patron deities of jungle goodness;
every table and countertop is their altar
and everyone worships the rulers of food.

They do not advertise themselves
as entheogens anymore --
but what's in a name, what's in a label? --
Their power remains as true as ever,
pressed between the bitter and the sweet,
the equator and the pole.
Every taste is a kiss
that may wake the sleeper within.

Comments

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

But where do Salt and Sugar fit in the picture? };) And how about Flour?

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Salt is established as the purvue of earth goddesses and flour under grain goddesses. Sugar, I'm not as sure of.

Re: Hmm...

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

But you did say 'Kitchen Goddesses'!

I'd guess Hestia would handle flour, being goddess of bread.

[scribblemyname]

Love this. The imagery is gorgeous!

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to hear that. Imagery is fun to play with.

[filkferengi]

I'm reminded of Talis Kimberley's song "Kitchen Heroes." Words are here:
http://www.talis.net/songs/kitchenheroes

There's a sound clip here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/TalisKimberley1

Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

That's lovely. I'm flattered by the comparison. I, too, believe in the importance of everyday tasks.

Re: Wow!

[filkferengi]

If you enjoy Talis, look under "Talis Kimberley" on youtube. There're lots of individual songs [the numbered ones are from the same set], as well as a few sets from cons [a half-hour to over an hour]. You can find the words to her songs on her official site, http://www.talis.net/ . If you're a Dr. Who fan, you'll find "Goodnight, Sarah Jane" a particularly moving tribute.

Her music's available for purchase on bandcamp & cdbaby.