A friend of mine started 6x3 cycles of chemo recently for a triple positive invasive breast cancer. After she bemoaned the need to abstain from various foodstuffs she enjoys (especially soft cheese, but emphatically not kimchi) I wrote her the first poem. With her blessing, I posted it on a couple of forums, and a response on the Macmillan board led to the (even more niche) second poem. I hope they bring a little joy.
Clare
You can keep the kimchi
For Penny
When chemo’s done, I’ll drink a sea
of whole untreated milk in tea.
I’ll eat a Ferris wheel of Brie,
but you can keep the kimchi.
I’ll feast on oysters, meat done rare,
eat frites with moules marinières,
break bread in molten Camembert,
but you can keep the kimchi.
I’ll wolf down Wiltshire ham for two,
quaff casks of home-made scrumpy brew,
scoff sourdough toast with Danish Blue,
but you can keep the kimchi.
Bring cockles, mussels live-alive-o!
Eggs Benedict would fill a hole
or licking out the mixing bowl
then gorging on a Gorgonzol-
a — you can keep the kimchi.
Salami, sushi, scallops, clam,
smoked salmon, mayo, mousse, meringue,
prosciutto, pâté, Parmesan,
just
kindly keep the kimchi!
Address to a Grapefruit
For Sarah, with apologies to Burns and his haggis…
O Grapefruit! We shall sound thy praise
and celebrate with tuneful lays
from breakfast time til end of days —
Thou choicest fruit! —
for gifting us with such a taste
none dare dispute.
All other fruit doth seem to fade
when set against thy marmalade
or halved and on a dish arrayed
with grapefruit spoon
to segment with serrated blade
thy rosy moon.
O Citrus paradisi fair!
O Pamplemousse beyond compare!
Thy globe doth cross the world ensnare —
Annwyl Grawnffrwyth! —
yet lovers need thy pips beware
nor take thy pith.
Fair full thy zesty sunset rind,
Great Chieftain of the citrus kind!
Alas! These years I am resigned —
I must thee slight
for in thy radiant star I find
my kryptonite.
