Poem
“Fish and visitors stink after three days.”
Benjamin Franklin
Poor Richard’s Almanack
Mother-in-law
was salting the haddock
micro-managed
- I chopped pickles
for tartar
endless tide
of criticisms
wafting up my nose
dangled
on the end
of the
line
thinking
just, assault
this fish
push it in the oven
and shut the door.
DONE.
© Darius the Mate 23-02-2022
nicecissist 
Punchy, powerful, fantastic verse, Darius. A vivid sensory moment described so well and such a fine satirical take on the quote 🙂
And sorry for my late visit, I haven’t quite been able to get online being so preoccupied with the horror of the latest news. But I find solace in reading everyone’s poetry today, not least yours.
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Hey Sunra! Thank you for the thoughtful, delighting comment (apart from the reference to the news – no delight taken in that…). I’m pleased you picked up on the satire – if my mother-in-law ever read my poetry, I’m sure she would be as confused, as offended – tongues are attracted to cheeks!
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You are most welcome ☀️
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Far better to assault the fish than the sous-chef! 😅
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Howdy! Thanks for the comment, Ingrid.
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You had me at that fantastic title. Such fun. So good.
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Thank you so much, De!
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LOL…that fish/guest is over-seasoned, I think!
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Thank you, Lynn, I agree.
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Very good and funny at the same time!
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Thank you, Carol.
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I hope this is the last day of her visit. I heard that saying a long time ago, but didn’t know where it came from.
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Thank you for the comment, Björn.
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Well you know I love this one! Succinct, sharp and stellar writing. Sometimes we just have to roll with the punches. 💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa 😍
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YAY! I’d been waiting for someone to use this line for inspiration. Great illustration! Great title! And oh the not so complimentary ode to the mother-in-law. LOVE IT!
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Hehe, it’s fun to be naughty. Thank you, Lillian.
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I love this. Perfectly captures being in the kitchen with the in-laws
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Thank you, JYP.
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Ha! Have been there, slowly baked in the steam of negativity…this is sharp, and also full of the ordinary world that can wear down and not inspire poetry, but you’ve tricked it into letting some go here.
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Thank you, just needed lemon to cut through the mundane.
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Brilliant 😊
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Thank you, Jim.
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