A Poem about Ending Hunger and Creating Happiness
In the wee morning hours, I saw a peculiar site,
A sour frowning girl coming out of the night.
She pulled her belongings on a blue vinyl sled
while a vinegar scowl covered her face and her head.
She wore a big poncho from her neck to her knees
that matched the blue kerchief she used when she sneezed.
When she growled down the street, all the neighbors were stirring
and her vinegar snarls made the kittens stop purring.
I opened my door and peeked my head out
when her big poncho flapped and she started to shout.
“I’m a vinegar girl from a vinegar place
but maybe you know that from my vinegar face!”
I went to my kitchen in a wee quick hurry
and began chopping peppers for a warm winter curry.
Then one second later, I flew back out the door
and I yelled to that girl, “Don’t be such a bore!”
“Take off your big poncho and relax for a bit.
I’ve made a hot stew. You should eat some of it.”
She turned with a whirl and a vinegar glare
and I felt a bit frightened when she gave me that stare.
But she pulled her sled over and marched down the hall.
Then after four lightening quick minutes, she had eaten it all.
She growled loudly again – it was then I discovered
The growl was the tummy that her poncho did cover.
I whirled through the kitchen making warm toast with jam
Noodles with butter and roasted red yams
She dove into the dish with her hands and her face
And when she was finished, there was not a crumb in the place
She wiped her mouth clean with her big poncho sleeve
and scowled ‘round my kitchen, fixin’ to leave.
Then she stopped, breathed deeply and thought for a while
when her vinegar sneer turned into a smile…
She said, “I’m a vinegar girl from a vinegar place.
For years I’ve been wearing this vinegar face.
But with a belly of curry, I’ll wear it no longer.
Who would have known, it was nothing but hunger?”
I sighed and I smiled, and I recalled an old song,
The path from the belly to the heart is not very long.
Tunisian Vegetable Stew
Adapted from Lauren
Serves: 6
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 medium head of cabbage, cored and thinly sliced thinly sliced
- 4-5 carrots, chopped
- 2 turnips, chopped
- 15 cherry tomatoes, chopped
- Handful of chopped green beans
- 1 fennel bulb sliced thin and chopped
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 16-oz can chickpeas (or 2 cups cooked)
- juice of ½ lemon
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cabbage, turnips and carrot. Add the salt and saute until the cabbage is cooked down, about 10 minutes. Stir in the spices, tomatoes, green beans and chickpeas. Add the fennel. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, and taste and adjust seasoning.
It’s clean out the fridge Saturday and I was inspired by the Gourmet Veggie Mama, Lauren. After the chopping, this throws together fast and is a tasty treat for lunch or to have in the fridge for a meal later in the week.
What meal will you be poetic about this week?
Agrigirl's Blog 
nrhatch
/ April 27, 2013I love this, Tammy!
It’s hard to be happy when we’re hungry.
And the stew sounds yummy too!
nrhatch
/ April 27, 2013Clean out the fridge Saturdays (or Fridays) are the best! We made homemade egg rolls last night to use up some veggies that were beginning to outwear their welcome.
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013I know, right? I have fun with it although other members of my house would prefer it all just went away.
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013Thanks Nancy. This was fun to write.
Llanes
/ April 27, 2013What a moving piece, is it yours?
Tammy
/ April 27, 2013It is indeed!
hotlyspiced
/ April 27, 2013Great poem, Tammy. It’s terrible to think of how many are going hungry especially in ‘affluent’ nations xx
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013I agree and there is easily a solution.
nrhatch
/ April 27, 2013You might be interested in this:
https://apps.facebook.com/foodchainreaction/
For each circle of 5 friends on FB, Panera will donate a bowl of soup to Feeding America®.
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013Interesting Nancy. I’ll check it out.
Auburn Meadow Farm
/ April 27, 2013Hidden talents Tammy! I love it, thank you!
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013Fun to share.
nats1mom
/ April 27, 2013WOW! Very powerful! Great post!
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013Thanks nats1mom. Loved your Target rant too. It’s important that we use our voices to discuss these concerns.
nats1mom
/ April 28, 2013Thank you Tammy – AGREE!! I allow my Sicilian passion to get the best of me 🙂
Debbie
/ April 27, 2013Wow, I love a poem to go with a recipe .. .and one about feeding the hungry is just so good! You can do anything, Tammy! Thank you!
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013This poem has been rattling around in my head for months and months. It feels so good to put it on paper.
flippingchannels
/ April 27, 2013I have to say I really enjoy the illustration!
Tammy
/ April 28, 2013Thank you for that – and you are a real artist!
Rukmini Roy
/ April 27, 2013Confirmed: You are my fav poet. And I totally dig the sketch.
By the way do you know that I am much like your vinegar girl? I’m the worst when I am hungry. I get frigidity, I snap, I wear a scowl like your girl and I am tantrum personified. Once fed, this girl is your slave.
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013I have a similar issue which may be one of the reasons that I enjoy food so much.
Kevin
/ April 27, 2013Sally, Vickie and I just spent the afternoon in Portland. We went to Benessere, a boutique specializing in olive oil and …. vinegar. Vinegar is WONDERFUL!
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013We went to one of those vinegar boutiques also. I brought home a chocolate balsamic that is really good. I need to remember to use it. Happy Birthday brother!
Tandy
/ April 27, 2013What’s beautiful poem and a wonderful sentiment Tammy 🙂
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013Thank you for reading.
Kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
/ April 28, 2013Tammy,
Lovely poem and sketch of my daughter, who is just like that when she needs to be fed. Is she ever truly hungry? Nope, she has not experienced true hunger. But she’s still a vinegar girl and happy after eating.
This stew sounds tasty, too–Lauren has great recipes!
Thank you.
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013I agree and it’s such a good one that can be modified to the season.
Kathy
/ April 28, 2013Smiling delighted at the Vinegar Girl! What a fun poem. And the stew looks marvelous. Making me hungry right now.
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013It is one of those that improves on the second day.
dianescholten
/ April 28, 2013Great poem! Thank you!
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013You’re quite welcome. Will you have shared meals in a cohousing arrangement Diane?
Lisa H
/ April 28, 2013I love your poem! Too funny that your poem is about vinegar, as I just made some wonderful baked beans made with vinegar and coffee.
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013Wow, that sounds different.
Lauren
/ April 28, 2013Oh, I just love this! And I loved it even before I realized you had used my recipe. 😉
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013I wrote it and then read your blog and thought they went together so well.
Three Well Beings
/ April 28, 2013Such a good poem, and the focus is so important. The amount of waste in America causes me heartache when I consider the number of people struggling with real hunger. I love your stew recipe, and really applaud your effort to raise consciousness. ox Debra
Tammy
/ April 29, 2013It’s true Debra. I believe that if we really got conscious about food waste and nutrition, then we could beat hunger back. And I also believe we could begin to do it with locally grown foods.
Sally
/ April 28, 2013The poem and the picture just wonderful and a strong reminder. Vinegar not always sour. It can be sweet and wonderful, like life lessons learned over time. Thanks for keeping us mindful of the need of others!
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013Hunger is a hard lesson for anyone but it breaks my heart that there are children who experience it and even worse that we then feed them with cheap calories that affect their longterm health. I am forever amazed by the range of vinegar flavors.
Sally
/ April 29, 2013Rereading this wonderful poem takes me to a soup kitchen I volunteer at.
It is so true when fed and full, the smiles appear, the frown disappears
And, curry so good for healing and keeping healthy! Your recipe has all the right ingredients!
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013This curry is easy and fast and got very good reviews from 6 of 7 who were around the table.
Linda
/ April 29, 2013Wow, Tammy – what a beautiful and powerful poem!
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013Thank you. I’ve been noodling it for years.
authorjaneward
/ April 29, 2013I love the way you’ve honored the art of poetry all month long.
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013It’s been fun and I’m a bit sad that it’s passed. I still had a couple more to share! Oh well, something in the coffers for next year. Your trip is wonderful!
kateshrewsday
/ April 29, 2013Fantastic, Tammy, I just love The Vinegar Girl. Lots to think about here!
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013I’d love it if you told me what your children think of it.
Biocadence
/ April 29, 2013You are so creative. What a blast it was to read this. You give me giggles with your imagery!
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013Thank you xoxo
shrinkingthecamel
/ April 30, 2013So cute. Plus great use of the word “vinegar”. That would make a great song, too!
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013Thanks. I began this as a creative writing exercise with made-up words. Then I had to find a word that would fit the poem. Vinegar seemed the most appropriate.
researchingsandiego
/ May 1, 2013Love, love, love, love this. So sweet and true, that sometimes the warmth of home and hearth can take away all the ills we may face. And, the drawing at the top is precious. I am finally catching up from an unplanned hiatus and am looking forward to seeing what you have been up to! I also nominated you for a blog award/meme that has been making the rounds – if you have the time/inclination, I’d love to see what you have to say! Thanks for making me smile with the poem, and hungry with the stew 🙂
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013Thanks for the kind words. I’ll be over although I haven’t been good at awards. Hope you’re doing well.
researchingsandiego
/ May 2, 2013Don’t worry – it’s all in fun 🙂 Glad to see you are doing well!
Kath
/ May 2, 2013The poem ❤
And I'm certainly bookmarking the recipe to cook it for the hubby and myself soon! This is exactly what we like to eat! 😀
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013So easy and tasty and perfect for that new man of yours!
I WIlkerson
/ May 2, 2013Cute! When my kids were little, I used to say I was going to write a kids book called “The Little Girl Who Told Sad Stories.” In the end she’d get more cheerful by telling happier stories.
Tammy
/ May 2, 2013I am thinking of making this into a book.
Island Traveler
/ May 6, 2013Love it. More because it is followed by a yummy treat. Thanks.
Tammy
/ May 11, 2013the treat is really yummy.
Promenade Claire
/ May 7, 2013Fab poem !!! More please !
Tammy
/ May 11, 2013will do!
Sophie33
/ May 17, 2013Tammy, I love your poem: lovely it is! 🙂 I love the drawing too 🙂 This dish sings to me,…yummmm!
Tammy
/ August 16, 2013and it is so yummy!
Sophie33
/ August 16, 2013So true! 🙂
meanlittleboy2
/ August 15, 2013Reblogged this on meanlittleboy2.
Tammy
/ August 16, 2013Thank you!
typewriter poetry
/ September 11, 2013Aw! That last line 🙂
Tammy
/ September 13, 2013🙂