Poem of the Day: "Gastronomy" by Carol Hamilton, Poet of the Month

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present "Gastronomy" by Carol Hamilton, Poet of the Month.  Ms. Hamilton will also be serving as the guest judge for the Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest, which will run from September 1 to October 15, 2015.  A detailed biography of Ms. Hamilton may be found here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2015/08/songs-of-eretz-poetry-review-poet-of.html.  The contest guidelines may be previewed here:  http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/p/songs-of-eretz.html.

Gastronomy

Carol Hamilton

The Crusaders returned

to worlds of turnips

and dried fish

with a new faith

in flame of spice

and a talent

for a table of more

than bread and wine.

Taste buds delight

in temptation, as even

the first story tells.

Poet’s Notes:  This little poem expresses my love for the history of food and for cooking. With the reference to the Crusaders and bread and wine, temptation and the “first story,” these all work together, I hope, to give the words a religious understory leading to a deeper meaning to the simple historical facts of the piece.

Editor’s Note:  I enjoy the poet’s choice of the word “flame” in the fifth line, which for me recalls the fires of the Crusades as well as the hot spices the Crusaders discovered in the Middle East.  “Gastronomy” was originally published in The Cape Rock.