Marrakech And Me

I’m in Africa
For the very first time
And so it deserves
Its very own rhyme

Marrakech
To be specific
A lovely city
Really terrific

The cacti are green
The stucco is pink
I like the mint tea
A very good drink

Snake charmers
And acrobats
And people wearing
unusual hats

Bought some slippers
In Moroccan styles
I also like
The Marrakech tiles

The tajine is tasty
The temperature’s hot
Tomorrow the Sahara!
To give camel-riding a shot

All Rights Reserved

 

The Apple

Sitting here
Feeling tortured
Cuz nothing rhymes
With apple orchard

And apples is
Another word
To rhyme something with
Is hard and absurd

But hubby said
Write today’s ditty
About the orchard we saw
But this ain’t pretty

And so about apples
You’ve learned nothing new
And I’m happy to say
This apple poem’s through

All Rights Reserved

Glad He’s Not One Hundred

For Hubby’s birthday–
He’s turning fifty
I had an idea
I thought kind of nifty

Fifty gifts for him
Given in three days
As we near the end
It’s kind of a haze

His mother is here
And has helped quite a bit
She contributed several
All were a hit

His brothers sent
A nice bottle of wine
My contributions
Weren’t nearly so fine

Some friends and the cat
Got in on the plans
Hubby has lots
Of generous fans

Décor for the garden
And also a teapot
Stuff for the kitchen
Was featured a lot

Most gifts were cheap
And many were silly
But most were of use
Since Hubby hates frilly

If he hits one hundred
Will I try this again?
Oh, sure why not?
Cuz we’re truly insane

All Rights Reserved

Hot Chocolate Repast

When it gets colder
Than I would like it
Hubby makes cocoa
And then he spikes it

Hot milk and chocolate
Would be fine enough
But Hubby adds other
Really good stuff

He throws in a dash
Of cocoa-chili blend
Hope we find more of it
When this jars ends

Remove from the stove
And then the fun starts
We debate with each other
What would most warm our hearts

A pour of Sambuca
Works well, I think
Hubby prefers rum
To be put in his drink

Sipping this stuff
Warms me right up
If not for the calories
I’d drink cup after cup

All Rights Reserved

Concession Obsession Confession

This week’s embarrassing
Poetic confession
I go to the movies
For the concessions

And let’s make it
A bit more specific
I think movie popcorn
Is really terrific

Butter and salt?
Please pile it on
I’ll eat every kernel
Until it’s all gone

Popcorn I get
In large-supersized
The amount I can eat
Leaves people surprised

Hubby says
We’re married, let’s share
I say No way,
It wouldn’t be fair

You’d go for a handful
I’d push you away
I’m warning you all
To heed what I say

I really do need
A bucket all for me
And then I’ll be quiet
And watch the movie

All Rights Reserved

Party Hearty

Hosting a party
And they all must be fed
Hubby and I will
Put on a mean spread

Appetizers, desserts
Champagne, beer, and wine
Serve them enough
And all will be fine

Pickled mixed veggies
Is one of our faves
And my guacamole
Always gets raves

I’ll make the biscuits
Hubby cooks ham
Give ‘em something Southern
It’s all in our plan

Water chestnuts in bacon
For something served warm
Forgetting the cheese platter
Would not be good form

Folks with a sweet tooth
Will not be forsaken
Three kinds of cookies
Are all in the makin’

And peanut butter truffles
To add something new
We hope everyone’s happy
When our party is through

All Rights Reserved

Second Annual Ode to Thanksgiving

A holiday about tradition
Merits another poetic rendition
That’s at least my humble position
I say this with zero contrition
Thanksgiving is the best!

Cookbooks scattered here and there
Tables, counters, everywhere
As hubby wonders what to pair
With his pumpkin pudding éclair
New recipes to test!

Turkey’s easy, at that we’re pros
Gravy and stuffing, but then who knows?
Sweet or russet mashed potatoes?
And as for veggies, anything goes
Saute well, add lemon zest!

Friends and family will arrive
Thanks you guys for making the drive
And for new dishes you all contrive
So on Thanksgiving we will thrive
And afterwards will need a rest!

In case you were curious, here is last year’s poem

All rights reserved

Speaking of Quinoa

Quinoa I hear
Is a kind of a grain
Although I keep trying
I find it too plain
Liking the stuff
Is rather a strain

Quinoa I hear
Is a way healthy treat
It’s good for my blood
And likely my feet
Antioxidants galore
Nutrients replete

Quinoa I hear
Can be made into pasta
I’m willing to try it
Since little the costa
But why am I certain
It will be quite a losta?

Quinoa I hear
Can be made into chips
Salted and fried
To add pounds to my hips
But still I won’t like
How it tastes on my lips

Quinoa I hear
Is so good for me
But I’ve tried it and tried it
And now I shall plea
That my diet remain
Healthy quinoa free

All Rights Reserved

Pimento Cheese, Please

A favorite nibble at our wedding brunch
On a small sandwich it was fun to munch

Guest voices rose in a crescendo, please
Give us more of that pimento cheese

A special spread southerners admire
When Yankees try it they get quite inspired

To eat the stuff a lot and more
What is this creation, they do implore

Southerners call it pimento cheese
Not sure you can get it overseas

But in the south it’s a common treat
Without which no buffet is ever complete

I like it especially on burgers grilled
When I do this for friends they become rather thrilled

Their voices rise in a crescendo, please
Give us more of that pimento cheese

Where do you get these pimentos, they ask
Pulling them from olives must be quite a task

They come in a jar all by themselves
Right there in the store on the canned veggie shelves

Add onion and mayo to plain old cheddar
And chop in pimentos to make it taste better

A dab of mustard to top off the spread
Refrigerate three hours and then go ahead

And serve it to friends at your next dinner party
But warn them ahead it is rather hearty

Their voices will rise in a crescendo, please
Give us more of that pimento cheese.

All Rights Reserved

Berry Wary

Roses are red
Black raspberries are, umm, black
This little ditty will prove
That I’m a poetic hack

I like black raspberries
They make me say the word “yum”
But right now they are causing me
A peculiar conundrum

Their bushes are close by
On the outskirts of my yard
So what’s the problem you may ask
That makes picking them so hard?

The berries are beautiful
They’re ripening quite nicely
But here’s the situation
That makes picking them rather dicey

The berries are entwined
Amongst a very dangerous vine
This plant has leaves three
And yes those leaves do shine

Protected by poison ivy
I’ll leave the berries be
Perhaps the birds will eat them
But those berries are safe from me

Roses are red
Black raspberries are, umm, black
And that’s the latest news
From the outskirts of my Vermont shack

All Rights Reserved