Salt and pepper

Once it just happened that spirit

Gave beautiful voices to all the spices in the great kitchen.

Here is what salt said to pepper:

 

Did I ever tell you I love your crackling bite

And how you nestle into food

And refuse to give yourself away to moisture

Whenever we get together

Something comes over me.

I cast off my points

And love the feast anew.

 

Pepper to salt:

 

What a mystery you are to me, salt.

Are you white or clear,

Solid or flowing?

Your taste conjures the sea.

Favored in all seasons,

Mistress-queen of the feast,

Without you I am one thing,

With you I am myself;

Banished are my fears

Of being shelved behind the vinegar. . .

 

Salt to pepper:

I always knew you loved me

But was afraid to hope that you actually enjoyed

Chasing me around the table.

Are you not tired of my

Selfishly claiming every taste bud?

It's not my fault you know,

I was created to be bold!

Pepper:

 

Please! To me you are a goddess.

Your place is in the center by the vase,

Beyond humble or proud.

If there were another Earth

You would be there with life,

But me - maybe not. . .

 

Salt:

Is that the fiery comet talking to the full moon?

I hold my orbit and shine too much

While you come chanting, free.

I know you:

You are the black sand of Kahoolawe.

Not only are you a staple of the feast

But after the party

After all the wine has been pissed out

And only those young lovers are still awake,

You have lodged in the corner

Of a sleeper's mouth,

Giving of yourself all night,

You, watcher of dreams. . .

 

And, if you can believe it,

They didn't stop until dawn. . .

In fact creator had to keep saying

Shhhhhhhhhh!