OUT upon your gibes ironic! You who've never known the tonic Toothsomeness of savory scrapple Dare to judge it? Well, I never! When no morsel of it ever Greased your graceless Adam's apple. When the northwest wind is blowing, Sharp enough for frost or snowing, And the days of muggy weather Have departed altogether, All our husbandmen are getting Butcher knives laid out for whetting, And some morning with the dawn Comes the porcine slaughter on. Let's not morbidly be dealing With the scuffling and the squealing, But, the gruesome parts deleting, Get us to the joys of eating. Well, then, when hog-killing's through This is what the housewives do: Clean a pig's head, nicely, neatly, Boil till meat leaves bones completely. When it's cold remove all greases, Chop meat into little pieces; Put the liquor and the meat Back again upon the heat, Slowly stirring cornmeal in Till it is no longer thin. Pepper, salt and sage they bring For its proper seasoning. When the mess is thick and hot It is lifted from the pot, Poured then into pans to mold And so left until it's cold. So ends Chapter I. The sequel Is a breakfast without equal! Come! it is a nippy morning, Frosty lace, the panes adorning, Takes the sun from many angles And the windows glow with spangles. From the kitchen range are rising Odors richly appetizing; Paradise is in the skillet, For the scrapple slices fill it, And each flour-encrusted piece Smiling in its fragrant grease Takes a coat of golden tan From the ardor of the pan. Crisp and brown the outer crust, oh! Food to rouse the gourmand's gusto From your platter gives you greeting; Truly this is royal eating! Out upon your gibes ironic! You who've never known the tonic Toothsomeness of savory scrapple, Dare to judge it? Well, I never! May no morsel of it ever Grease your graceless Adam's apple! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A YOUNG BEAUTY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE CRICKET by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT TO MRS. THRALE [ON HER COMPLETING HER THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR] by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784) THE FOOL'S ADVENTURE by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; A LEGEND OF ITALY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |