The food in Portuguese

My sister-in-law Carol told me, when I gave her this, that no-one had ever written her a poem before. Well, it's high time...


The food in Portuguese


The words
Fast and light as finches
Leave her mouth

Portuguese
Her old language
Spoken very young

Missionary child
In Brazil
Herself exotic
Eyes like stars
Dark hair swinging

She speaks it now
Describing food

Maracuja

Familiar dishes
Unfamiliar names

Churrescaria

The words living things
Light and bright as Brazilian sun
More song than speech

Jabuticaba

The food a festival,
A feast for ears, and eyes and tongues

Feijoada

Summer’s heat dancing on the table
When Carol in a Canadian winter
Serves the food in Portuguese