THE MYSTERIES OF THE SPICE RACK

 

At this time of year, at this time of day,

I'm tempted to wonder why thyme's run out

and mint's hardly started.  Oh, I could say

I'm not the sort of man to scream and shout

 

in a clove crisis - I just need cinnamon

to bake the perfect cake, to get a thing right

the Nigella Lawson way.  I'm a person

in turmeric.  I look for chervil all night.

 

Oregano sucks.  Ginger has vanished.

Life without Rosemary’s hard.  My hand

tightens round a jar.  I only need to twist.

 

In the Gary Rhodes world the pages get turned

like a play; like a plot; like a plan.

She went for Basil.  I only sprain this wrist.