Epicure: Mother’s Choice by Gopal Lahiri

Lasagne on the oven; smells anchor me

roasted broccoli glazed in butter and vinegar,

Spiny orange legs, king crab takes naps in the glass case

sashimi, homemade sauces with fillets to go,

Bluefin tuna shining in the wooden table

one pot French onion soup with mushrooms,

Brussels sprouts in the bacon fat, red peppers on fire

lemony pasta goes well with chickpeas and parsley,

Grilled fish gels with lime, chiles and herbs

We need nothing more, thoughts and desires

kimchi grilled cheese, charred green onion, beans and chili pepper

butternut-squash shines with green curry soup

From the sill of the lips, the wow moment trickles into a noise,

Nothing is above love, never will be,

Let me read you, the smile lines on your wrinkled face,

Sixty-two years accumulating on coffee cans, kitchen jars.

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Gopal Lahiri was born and lives in Kolkata, India. He is a bilingual poet, writer, editor, critic and translator and published in Bengali and English language. He has authored 22 books to his credit. His poetry is also published across various anthologies as well as in eminent journals of India and abroad. His poems are translated in 14 languages and he is the recipient of Setu Excellence award, Pittsburgh, US, 2020. Twitter- @gopallahiri https://www.gopallahiri.blogspot.com