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Cordon Bleu Spuds

by joanie 

Posted: 12 April 2004
Word Count: 79


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I peel potatoes
while
balancing her
on my left hip

I shouldn't spoil her.
Make
her sit and watch
while I prepare

From her bouncy seat.
But
she makes a fuss;
it's easier.

And she can learn so
much .......
When she is grown
she will peel too.

Now she lives alone
she
buys oven chips
and plastic mash

and vegetables,
steam
in polythene,
full of goodness.

I visit her for
lunch
and it's so good!
Peeler, good bye.







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Comments by other Members



roovacrag at 22:54 on 12 April 2004  Report this post
Sounds familiar.

Mum cooks,
kids take the easy way.

still prefer home cooked, to plastic.
I cringe with my daughters cooking.
xxAl

Skeetr at 23:01 on 12 April 2004  Report this post
Joanie,

I liked the intimacy you established between mother and daughter; and liked the way the speaker/mum was both apologizing for 'spoiling' yet simultaneously redefining that 'spoiling' to show how it was a lesson she was teaching. Only to have that lesson become unnecessary in (not really lost on) her grown daughter's life. I like the twist at the end -- that the mum revels in her daughters freedoms wrapped in 'plastic' and partakes of the energy of her grown life... nice touches all throughout.


Smith

joanie at 23:26 on 12 April 2004  Report this post
Thanks, Alice and Smith. I don't know how I feel about this, actually.
I still peel potatoes, but I LOVE ( and envy) my daugher's freedom to be able not to!
joanie


The Walrus at 08:13 on 13 April 2004  Report this post
Like the way you've taken an every day chore of peeling spuds and yet behind it sits the gentle voice of motherly love. For me, this a beautiful, subtle piece.

The Walrus

roger at 17:09 on 13 April 2004  Report this post
Can I add my agreement to the above? The intimacy, the loving mum, the humour in that the daughter takes the 'new way'. Lovely stuff...a very unusual approach, too, which is refreshing.

joanie at 18:54 on 13 April 2004  Report this post
Thank you, The Walrus and roger. I appreciate your comments.
joanie

joanie at 21:18 on 13 April 2004  Report this post
roger, I'm just re-reading the comments (as you do!) I am just interested to know why you feel that it is a 'very unusual approach'?
joanie

roger at 14:34 on 14 April 2004  Report this post
Hi again, Joanie, just that there are many ways you can talk about the old and new styles of eating, and so much is said that the subject can become tedious. But you relating it to the old with the baby then the new with 'the baby' showing you was, I thought, a refreshingly original approach.

joanie at 15:52 on 14 April 2004  Report this post
Thanks again roger!
joanie


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