For last weekend’s writing class, we were asked to write a poem on something we wanted to teach. I wrote about using your senses when you cook. You know me, I don’t like measuring! 😉 Here you go.
Let your senses lead your cooking
throw away all cups, spoons and numbers
free your hands and arms so you can twirl
let your skin tingle and open your eyes, and pirouette
you are a ballerina in your kitchen.
Let your senses lead your cooking
cups are not made of glass or steel but the flesh of your own hands
catch the water in your palm and make it glide
between your fingers, across your skin, into the pot,
with your lithe touch.
Let your senses lead your cooking
time is not seen in seconds but in the colors that change
to deeper reds and vibrant greens
sight the palette growing in hues and shades,
delight in your masterpiece.
Let your senses lead your cooking
let go the urge to stir too much; wait patiently
a waltz of herbs, a tango of flavors will spin around you by and by
a dance of aromas that lead you in a two-step and
move your body to a potent rhythm.
Let your senses lead your cooking
nothing else can test the heat of a pan better than
an ear that listens closely to the staccato of the oil,
the crescendos, the allegros, the songs of a siren dish
that build up to the appassionatos of bon appetit’s.
Now, let your senses lead your cooking.
— Toni, July 8, 2005
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
tin
July 11, 2005 at 12:54 pm (19 years ago)nice work, toni! hope you write more and more poems!
Daphne
July 11, 2005 at 1:33 pm (19 years ago)Good one! Did you get 100 for your poem? 😉
jojo
July 11, 2005 at 2:10 pm (19 years ago)*applause*
really nice Toni! keep it up!
Toni
July 11, 2005 at 4:44 pm (19 years ago)tin: Thanks!
daphne: Hehehe no, but I got a Very Good! :p
jojo: Thanks sis!
rolly
July 11, 2005 at 7:02 pm (19 years ago)Nice one, Toni.
“cups are not made of glass or steel but the flesh of your own hands” … who could have thought of that?
angelbeam
July 11, 2005 at 7:24 pm (19 years ago)hey good one! my favorite part is “..time is not seen in seconds but in the colors that change..”
you have a way with words girl.
paz
July 11, 2005 at 10:54 pm (19 years ago)great job, toni! you managed to put two of your great loves in one beautiful creation – cooking and writing!
dexie
July 12, 2005 at 12:53 am (19 years ago)great one! measuring ain’t my forte either. i’m an “eyeballer” except with baking though
meeyagirl
July 12, 2005 at 4:01 am (19 years ago)hey toni, i loved this! i don’t like measuring when i cook, too. pero it’s true, ha, cooking’s a lot like dancing (especially with an overzealous mantika as a partner). and of course, the day’s dance ends with our family’s tummies’ applause, hehe. your grade: very very very good! 😀
Mikey
July 12, 2005 at 6:37 am (19 years ago)nice poem. Amazing how words become more fluid when you write about stuff you love eh? Keep it up 😉
Christine
July 12, 2005 at 7:51 am (19 years ago)nice! Good one Toni!
jeanny
July 12, 2005 at 10:37 am (19 years ago)Nice one. I love it.
Me too, I dont usually measure when I cook. I based it on my senses lang. So far wala pa naman nasosobrahan sa alat or me natatabangan sa luto ko. 😀
BabyPink
July 12, 2005 at 2:57 pm (19 years ago)ay, nakakatuwa ang poem.:)
kahit hindi ako maka-relate kung basa ko sa kanya ay “about cooking” talaga. kasi hindi ako marunong magluto eh. pero kung ang basa ko ay isa siyang poem “about living life”, then relate ako! at panalo ka talaga, mare!:)
Toni
July 12, 2005 at 3:12 pm (19 years ago)rolly: Wow! Coming from you, this is a super big compliment. Salamat Tito!
angelbeam: Thanks sis! And isn’t so true? Once you see the greens turning a deep green, you know it’s ready to be eaten na!
paz: Oo nga ‘no, I didn’t think of it that way. 😀 Thanks dearie.
dexie : Hello fellow eyeballer. I’m not big on measuring either; I guess that’s why I’m not a good baker!
meeyagirl : Yey! Thank you teacher! 😛
Mikey : Thank you! Yes, when you write about something that you have an intense connection with, the words just fall into place!
Christine : Thanks sis!
jeanny : O diba! Senses are the best “measure”!
Diane: Salamat mare! 😉
Jean
July 14, 2005 at 10:21 am (19 years ago)Luvin’ it Toni. Deep.
Hope you don’t mind me copying it.