Monday 17 December 2012

Stirring



Heap up the dried fruits, let them marinade
all night, a second honeymoon of booze;
an upset of almonds with their whiff of cyanide;
sultry cherries in their violated glory;
bittersweet, the candied taint of peel
we once discarded. Add citrus zest
to this pirate’s chest of jewels, sprinkle
cinnamon for regret; swing a great censer
of nutmeg absolution, a covet of allspice,
slow-blending muscovado. Help me preserve
all these good things against the winter. Bind
with butter, eggs and flour, bake it loveblind
in a bedding of brown paper, the fragrance
hotter now than summer. Let us make
a new abundance in this kitchen.
Let there be a sticky handfasting
of gritty marzipan and fondant icing.
Let there be more fruit than cake.


Judi Sutherland is a poet and writer, she blogs at There Must Be More To Life Than Having It All.

1 comment:

  1. Magnificent, a rich, chewy read, with the flavours and smells evoked beautifully. One tiny quibble - I thought you used royal icing for Christmas cake?

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