Since the word prompt today is “bitter,” I’m reposting a poem I wrote three years ago that deals with the subject of the five taste categories: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami, (and spicy, which they added even though it isn’t really a taste categoryi: We were to choose which taste we would choose to give u if there were one flavor our tongue would no longer be able to distinguish. Here is my choice:.
Sayonara Umami
Every day my word prompt takes time away from me.
I lie in bed and write and write sometimes till two or three.
But today they’ve found another part of me to waste,
for now they’re going to take away one aspect of my taste.
Salt or bitter, sweet or sour, are tastes I must maintain.
Umami is the obvious choice that causes the least pain.
They say monosodium glutamate is what creates its savor.
Seaweed, cured fish, aged cheese and meats are what contain its flavor.
(These foods I hate and so at last, I’ll never have to worry
about detecting those weird tastes in saté or in curry.)
No more lurking fish paste. No more furry tongue.
No more adult flavors found revolting by the young.
So for once, dear “Word Prompt,” I shall to you relate
my thanks for taking from my life something I really hate!
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 