The King of Spices

oh wondrous pepper!
born in Kerala, South India &
said to be “the king of spices”---
that which goes with practically any food,
that which does all that it can to bring excitement to the tongue---
spawned from the piper nigrum whose
berries once picked, then dried,
become implements of savory goodness,
brought on by the explosive oils inside whose
wild nature bears for us
everything from
anti-oxidants to
antiseptics &
what a debt we owe to you,
for you have made many otherwise horrible tasting foods
tolerable,
you have been that last ingredient to change up things &
add a dash of interest into
an otherwise routine
cuisine---
we sit at your feet,
great peppercorn, ground to perfection &
ready to
eat.