Tamales (a poem)

Gold cherry

By poetkateholden

Sat, 19 Feb 2022
  • 1041 reads
8 comments
 

Tamales

 

At the end of the rainbow

there is a foil-wrapped package 

of pork tamales

roll your eyes at anyone

who blathers on

about some pot of gold

all you can do with a pot of gold

is admire the glow a bit

before you remember bills are due

and you have to lug that pot of gold

all the way back to the bank 

the cashier who has to count it 

hates you

 

No, at the end of the rainbow

there’s a foil-wrapped package 

of pork tamales

not from the frozen food aisle

not from that chain restaurant

that covers them in cheese sauce

the tamales at the end of the rainbow

are corn husks gleaned from the fields

a layer of masa flour red with cayenne

full of shaved pork simmered for hours

these are the tamales you haven’t had

since Grandma Diaz died

they are still warm

Who would go all the way to the end 

of the rainbow for anything less?

 

Certificate 12
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by onemorething on

You've made tamales sound so good that I want to find them at the end of a rainbow. This poem makes me smile, it has humour, quirkiness and warmth. 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I agree with onemore - they really sound worth the trek! Welcome to ABCTales Poetkate - do post more soon, and congratulations on your first cherry!

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This delightful poem is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day

Please share/retweet if you also want to try tamales now smiley

Picture Credit: https://tinyurl.com/yckyzhmc

 

Submitted by marandina on

I thought I recognised that name from Twitter. Welcome to ABCtales, Kate! Congrats on the POTD. Paul :)

 

Submitted by donignacio on

Delicious tamales. I grew up in Kansas and had them frequently there. Your poem brought back the sensation. Excellent poem!

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

A rainbow lover myself but don't believe in the pot of gold. Still, who knows, I mean can you prove there isn't one? I understand you are a new writer on Abc? Maybe you've discovered your pot of gold! Apart of your tamalas of course.

I don't know what tamalas are but got the recipe now. Hopeless cook actually. Any one for breakfast? banana bread and instant oats!

Keep well! Tom Brown

 

Submitted by poetkateholden on

Thank you for reading, Tom!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

An amusing as well as an educational piece, Kate. I regret that I missed this delicious-sounding dish during my visit to Mexico many years ago.
Welcome to ABC and congratulations on your accolade.

Best wishes, Luigi