Mom's Cure-all

West coast winter winds rattle

rain clouded window panes,

chilling body, and spirit

craves a cuddle while thoughts

go to winters past childhood

shack in island swamp and mom’s

cure-all for winter blahs.

Start with bag of dried green peas

steeped in pot of vegie water

saved from yesterday’s mushy,

peas, beans, carrots, overcooked,

as mom was wont to do, then add

bayleaf and allspice, smoked pork-hocks,

when hocks were cheap and unwanted,

onions, fried clear in butter,

carrots for colour splash.

A bubbling promise of spring

simmering but not for long

before sweet woofs of bay,

allspice and onion

pursued by hocks smoky

warps weave a shawl to warmly

swathe, body and spirit.

By Bob Tuomi