Dining with a Side of Heimlich

The words and feelings that are sorted jambalaya

     like a slow cooker they steam and churn

burnt offerings of the most selective cuts

      adding spice and touches of old seeping memories

there seems to be no end to the feast of negativity

       written in crocks of smiles, still can't toast it just right

when you've been half baked and fried to death

     roasting at excessive high heat and drenched in hot sauce

             it's hard to swallow the sweet essence of life's flavors

serve it up with crusty bread and wine to the guests

          they have no clue what they've imbibed

would they choke on the horse of a different color

          if they knew they just dined on sacrificial lamb

supper is tastefully served with a side order of Heimlich 

Reviews

[DCT ponderings]

What a powerful metaphor Frieda. Have you ever seen the movie Something to talk About? There is a scene where Julia Roberts talks about sitting their politely smiling while she is served up copious amounts of BS, like a good southern girl. There are times you need the Heimlich indeed.

[Frieda P]

Thanks for this glowing review DCT, I haven't but I will certainly make it a point to catch it now...I love her.

[Frieda P]

By the way, I"m not Southern, Italiano and Southern gals are worlds apart :-)

[DCT ponderings]

I'm from Philly so I know you Miss Italiano. You dish it up passionately, loudly and without abandon. My favorite type of food.

[Frieda P]

Ciao neighbor, so you do know :-)

[DCT ponderings]

si si! :))

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Well, may I join you for a BITE! x

[Frieda P]

At your own risk love! x

[icelandicblue]

So often things are not what they seem. The smiles that hid the insidious monster inside. Betrayal, Deceit and Lies, oh my...I love these lines:

when you've been half baked and fried to death
roasting at excessive high heat and drenched in hot sauce
it's hard to swallow the sweet essence of life's flavors

Say it loud sister because it is so true!

[Frieda P]

Ha blue, I would have written it in caps but that can be annoying!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we are served up falsehoods, fake personas...lies...a meal that needs the Heimlich just to get rid of the negativity..problem even after the clearance...will we sit at the table again and trust that the cook isn't trying to poison us...
once trust is lost..it seems impossible to get it back..

this is such a great metaphorical piece...

i received the Heimlich once...i was so damn lucky that person knew it...because i would have choked to death--wasn't on words or falsehoods though...was a piece of a beef sandwich...
okay that was too much information..
at any rate...we eat the lies then need to be saved...but life is never the same...trust is never recaptured.

jacob

[Frieda P]

Wow, you humble me jacob, means a lot coming from you...yes, the Heimlich can be scary, have to watch yourself while dining and whatever else in life that can choke you.

[Dana Alsamsam]

the whole world is just composed of fake smiles and negativity. we all know that beneath the burned edges there is some amazing food- it's just hard to get past the outer texture and it takes work to unveil the beauty within. the sacrificial lamb at the end really got me thinking...would some people even choke at all or just go right on eating? great write.

[Frieda P]

Exactly Dana, I think some might just say pass the salt to make it more palatable. Thanks!

[s y e]

"it's hard to swallow the sweet essence of life's flavors
serve it up with crusty bread and wine to the guests" ~~ I loved these lines! I loved the wording, too!

You're such an amazing writer, I enjoy all your writes!

~ Noodlebumble

[Frieda P]

So jazzed you did noodlebumble, thanks!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

mmmmm Let me guess...........................They choked on it lol? Nice and strange and relevant all at the same time.

[Frieda P]

Ha not the first time you've mentioned 'strange'...! Thanks John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

ok 'Cookie'?

[Pryde Foltz]

A poignant analogy. Yes, it is hard to taste the sweet flavours of one who is burnt. Some great turn of phrase in this one.

[Frieda P]

Thanks Pryde, glad you enjoyed it.

[TL Boehm]

when you've been half baked and fried to death
roasting at excessive high heat and drenched in hot sauce
it's hard to swallow the sweet essence of life's flavors

Such a tasty metaphor this is!

[Frieda P]

After dinner mint? Thanks Tam!

[Brett Pritchard]

I say that's a sterling piece there. Manages to be both delightfully witty yet with some painful and hear felt depictions to boot. Not an easy combination to strike but managed here with seeming ease.

Very enjoyable reading!

BP

[Frieda P]

Wow, thanks Brett, thrilled by your review my friend!

[Brett Pritchard]

Always most welcome. 😊

BP

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

This was painful...I felt sorrow beyond belief in these words. You have opened the emotional doorway here, my friend, and I step through it on tentative toes. Sadly, I feel what you have written, in your own clever way, and I understand the implications of negativity, loss, lonliness and the proverbial "sacrificial lamb". Great metaphor and imagery here. Well done.

[Frieda P]

Coming from you that means a lot Friday, thanks so much.