Poem: meat and potatoes

This week’s Poet’s Corner features a second contribution from Ben Adams.

Nov 10, 2021, updated Nov 10, 2021

meat and potatoes

throw herbs
and garlic together

smash them into life
against the sides

of a cheap mortar
rub the result

onto a cut of lamb
ticketed for quick sale

at the local
global conglomerate

a squeeze of lemon
to freshen it

Irish carbs roasted
too long

which is never
too long

the charred edges
are what give this dish

its texture
don’t overthink things

give me meat
and potatoes

give me something to chew on
and keep my head

in check, while
the heart

finds its own way
to keep going

Ben Adams is a writer, servo-clerk, research assistant and festival cash wrangler with honours in History and English. His poems have appeared in various print and online publications, featured in the 2018 ‘Raining Poetry in Adelaide’ street-art project, and at Quart Short Collective’s reading nights. He has featured with Paroxysm Press for their regular spoken word event ‘Spoke N Slurred’, and their ‘Showcase’ series at the 2019 Adelaide Fringe. Also in 2019, ‘Eclectica Magazine’ published his personal essay ‘A Radical Liberalism’, and his first poetry collection ‘A Synonym for Sobriety’ was published following it winning that year’s Friendly Street Single Poet Competition. Ben can be found at Facebook.com/bts.adams.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.

 

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