Wednesday, February 18, 2009

ketchup & french fries

smudged with dirt, wiped clumsily
tiny fingers are dipped in ketchup
the glowing child sucks it clean
risk of infection unknown to her
her harassed mother watches
curbing her own impulse to stop her

something compelling her, mother
collects another plate of french fries,
pours ketchup liberally over it
and candidly copies the child,
longer fingers dipped in it
she sucks each squeaky clean

"if it is not true nirvana, then what is?"

27 comments:

Jeeves said...

Wow!!!I smiled a lot reading this

bARE-eYED sUN said...

hmmmm . . . someone really, really likes ketchup. :-)

..
.ero

sage said...

Reminds me of my daughter when she was young--the lover of ketchup!

Winnie the poohi said...

Oww how sweet! left me with a smile!

ande said...

The sin of a good french fry can only be compared to other things I will not mention here. I really liked this-Now I'm just hungry though!

anthonynorth said...

Ah, culinary mysticism. I'm approaching ecstasy :-)

Lorraine said...

Life...you're got it down to a T, love this, contradictary and brilliant ;)

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the joy in such small moments is its own protection.

Noah the Great said...

I love ketchup. :D

You're missing an h in the second line. (Intentional?)

Good poem.

Margie said...

Oh, I loved it!
Put a big smile on my face:)

Margie

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of when my children were little. And my husband now!!!

polona said...

i'm not a fan of ketchup but this is delightful!

Magyar said...

...and that wee bit of ketchup that remains on my chin? Luv-it_!

Art and Poetry said...

Nice one! I love ketchup also

Whitesnake said...

It is full of calories!

Janice Thomson said...

Absolutely delightful Guatami - how beautifully said.

Daily Panic said...

You know I battle french fries every day- They are soooo tempting.
And I agree. Nirvana *sigh*

Keshi said...

brilliant!

As usual :)

Keshi.

Anonymous said...

Nice little story, poetically told and I like the way you weaved in the prompted words!

The NaisaiKu.. Challenge!

venuss66 said...

A very good one!

Lucy said...

we need to take more cues from our children, lighten up and have a carefree life!
loved this Gautami!

PJD said...

Love this moment between mom & child. Fries + ketchup = nirvana. Cool.

Anonymous said...

Compelling me too ;)
Nice poem, i like it.

Anonymous said...

i like this.. :D

Thom Gabrukiewicz said...

Oh, man, this killed me. I just got my appetite back and am really craving fast food - including a large fry. Great stuff.

Anya Padyam said...

:) nice:) ... nirvana indeed...

susan said...

Love fries and ketchup.