Hope You Approve of My by Nia Davies

Ever since the incident with the ginger

boyfriend and the ginger-

bread men,

I never baked a thing ‘til this

tin of non-stick with

ten scooped shell dips

for piping courgette-laced mix

to be zucced up to a crisp.

Each madeleine

will fit the arc of the palette.

Our mouths, big toe sized,

say: lo and behold

this is good! I coasted

the pips to fit just into but out of it,

thought again of My First Parmesan:

in the house of Yarnit (at home Mum

 and I ate courgette soufflé

with a lettuce leaf).

I’m still deferring my questions

to their expertise: Parmesan

or Parma Reggiano? And

now the Yarnit sisters,

standing on my step a cake to each hand.

Try my toe-cakes, please.

Approve! Yes,

approve me

please!

Nia Davies's first pamphlet Then Spree is forthcoming from Salt. She blogs here.