Odes

Rcecntly there have been a flurry of emails between the khandaan about "an ode to sorpotel" that I sent out as a forward. Many thought that I was the author of this ode and much doubt and skepticism were being expressed. I finally laid everyones minds to rest with this response :

while I lay no claim to poetry
or rhythm or rhyming of words
I must say with all sincerity
the ode came straight from the birds
 
 
'twas Mili that sent me the mail
whence she got it , I do not know
it may have been Bodia's pa-in-law
or some other goanche makapao
 
why this ode should cause such a flurry
I'm at a loss to find a reason
but sorpotel will always be  tasty
 in winter or any other season
 
be it with  sannas or fogias or pulao
or bread, pao or plain rice
sorpotel must be eaten with relish
and plenty of feni on ice
 
be you goan , east Indian or mangee
or just a pork loving son of a gun
sorpotel will always be the best dish
when all is said and done
 
now hear ye , all you people
I say with hand on my heart
this little piece of poetry
is mine in whole and part
 
so thank for your attention
and the interest you've thus far shown
for if it were not for that ode
we'd still be looking to our own
 
now that we've made a connection
lets promise to keep it that way
for who knows when some goanche
another ode will write some day

….and followed it up with an ode of my own :

AN ODE TO VINDALOO

I guess we owe an ode
To that other Goan dish
Where piggy meat is used
But never any  fish

It came from Portugal
In the good ole days of yore
When ice was at a premium
But not wine & vinegar

“Garlic , vinegar & wine”
Is what it roughly means
The Goans added spices
And lots of chilly beans

Yes , I speak of vindaloo
The other Goanche favourite
That gets the sweat glands going
And a good long morning shit

At Christmas lunch we sit down
To a  home cooked family meal
Of sorpotel, vindaloo and pulao
And maybe some salted veal

Sometimes we add potatoes
Or make it with chicken and lamb
But vindaloo is always best
When made with uncured ham

Lets raise a toast to THE PIG
“Porky here’s to you”
Ham , bacon ,  sorpotel
And spicy VINDALOO