Land of plenty

Land of plenty

My mum was a feeder
Showing her love through food,
Tables were packed solid
Everything you could possibly want,  and more.
"Help yourself,  don't be shy"
"Have another,  it'll only go to waste"
My poor aunt,  hectored every Sunday
Until she had that second helping of dessert.

Was it the shortages in the war, and after
That made her anxious we weren't full?
"Better to have too much than too little"
She hated the thought of being found wanting.

Often now when I remember her
I picture her in the kitchen
Stirring a pan of minced meat stew
In a thick fug of onions, carrots and gravy,
Patiently skimming off the scum
Before dropping in the fluffy dumplings.
Or rubbing margarine into flour to top a last minute crumble,
"Silly to let our apples go to waste".

When I was good she let me have the cream off the top of the milk,
Mended sadness or pain with a biscuit
Celebrated success with a special meal.

She was a natural cook
Sharing her love with simple, home made fare,
So that even now,  decades later
I find it hard to say no when I'm offered food,
Fearful that I may be rejecting love,
Rather than just a slice of something sweet.


© Copyright 2018. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

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