Poem: meat and potatoes
Books & Poetry
This week’s Poet’s Corner features a second contribution from Ben Adams.
meat and potatoes
throw herbs
and garlic together
smash them into life
against the sides
of a cheap mortar
rub the result
onto a cut of lamb
ticketed for quick sale
at the local
global conglomerate
a squeeze of lemon
to freshen it
Irish carbs roasted
too long
which is never
too long
the charred edges
are what give this dish
its texture
don’t overthink things
give me meat
and potatoes
give me something to chew on
and keep my head
in check, while
the heart
finds its own way
to keep going
Ben Adams is a writer, servo-clerk, research assistant and festival cash wrangler with honours in History and English. His poems have appeared in various print and online publications, featured in the 2018 ‘Raining Poetry in Adelaide’ street-art project, and at Quart Short Collective’s reading nights. He has featured with Paroxysm Press for their regular spoken word event ‘Spoke N Slurred’, and their ‘Showcase’ series at the 2019 Adelaide Fringe. Also in 2019, ‘Eclectica Magazine’ published his personal essay ‘A Radical Liberalism’, and his first poetry collection ‘A Synonym for Sobriety’ was published following it winning that year’s Friendly Street Single Poet Competition. Ben can be found at Facebook.com/bts.adams.
Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.
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