Molè Olè

the recipe
written in grandmothers hand
seemed like it was scribed
during a bout of dementia
(she was 96 after all)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

for sure it was a mistake

i called her at the nursing home
she sounded amused
but lucid

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

peanuts
sesame seeds
pickled jalapeños
(must be clemente jacques brand she said)

the list went on
stranger than before

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

dried chili’s soaked in chicken broth
and pulverized into thick red paste
ground black pepper
cinnamon from Asia

(is she going to poison me with this mess)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

more unusual parts
now in store

one tablespoon of tomato paste
(not a drop more)
two slices of white bread
burned to a crisp
(keep putting it back in the toaster
until it smokes up the house and looks like charcoal)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

fry the chili paste in lard
toast the sesame in a pan until dark brown
roast the carrots until they begin to blacken

(I’m sure this is a witches brew
concocted for an evil spell)

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

juice of two lemons
one lime rind
(yes throw away the fruit)
eight garlic cloves

palm oil
(no olive oil won’t work)
had to make a trip to the Mexican market for that

(vision of a voodoo queen
and dolls with pins)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

now smoosh it all into a big pan
push it through the sieve
with a wooden spoon
crunch the peanuts with a rolling pin

crumble the white bread charcoal
and add it in

(not even a witch-doctor would prescribe this)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

heat it in a pan over low heat so it simmers
(a sheen on the the surface catches the light)

in a separate pan boil the chicken
then take off the skin
(you can feed that to the dog he’ll love you for it)

put the chicken on a plate
(looks pallid)

(feeling candid as i look for the hidden camera)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me

one square of bitter dark
bakers chocolate
(have you ever tasted that shit?)

take the pan off the heat

let the. chocolate melt
then stir it on in

pour a spoonful of sauce
over each piece of chicken
and serve next to rice

then sit down and eat while it’s still nice and hot

well i sat at the table
picked up my fork
expecting the worst

(would my head blow off, would i see visions)

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

my mouth seemed to explode
with a confusion of tastes
so wonderful i cannot describe

who would mix those weird things
in one pot
to create something edible

just follow the directions
she said
trust me
you will find it incredible

she is absolutely right

(C)2019 Raibeart Bruis