catfish stew

oh, i have no bacon    
but in the freezer a ham hock lays.  
maybe half way through,    
i might be able to dismember it...    
cut it through and through.    
well, the pot is upon the eye    
and the heat has been applied.    
as the metal heats    
the onion, bell pepper and celery... all diced to the right size.    
slightly let me use a drop of oil    
to let the vegetables sweat,    
growing translucent    
on account of the electric moderate heat.    
salt, pepper, garlic in granulated form    
damn, trying to herd up these fennel seeds as they swarm.    
mix in the pot    
all in the water    
every thing cold floating to the top.    
the heat as it comes    
bubbles upon bubbles    
effervescent the herbs have become.    
how it is easy peasy to open the tomatoes    
the can is simply popped    
in the trash goes the top.    
now to peel the potatoes.    
along this path    
tomato paste is added in hopes of its thicken wrath.    
the steam rises    
and the stock now swells    
the room's aroma, sure does smell.    
now i butcher that hock,    
ha ha, not much meat does it got...    
but deep in the freeze i have found    
two smoked sausages, yes i had forgot.    
slice them into coins round.    
all seems to be going well    
tasting good as all soups i have prepared.    
and the paste...    
working for it to has jelled.    
now i will taste.    
oh my my.    
i reach once more...    
deep within the door.    
catfish fillets...    
just where i put them    
behind everything, they lay.    
plop plop    
four pieces floating on top    
whole, skinned and filleted.    
now to watch them sink    
i sip from the spoon another drink    
of what do i think    
yes, delicious, the stew    
bubbling like a witch's brew.    
all is merry within the pot    
modestly, outrageous it is    
but modest i am not.    
my bowl is present...    
as the ladle fills with heavenly scent    
my spoon is coveted in hand    
as i eye the nectar to the bottom of the bowl it lands.    
i take a taste.    
i think again...    
for it lacks    
the eye appeal    
so to address this    
i unseal...    
chopped spinach from its sack.    
now to sit and throw back...    
for this is just a recipe from an old hack.