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Recorded Reading (5:32):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e0kd68vnbkif82f2ckarw/Wisdom-Wit-and-Nourishment.m4a?rlkey=dzous4f245ma2ucvr4uz4unsf&st=lloe6o1h&dl=0

*****

Wisdom, Wit and Nourishment

My mother told me once a tale
A lovely ancient legend of
About a very wealthy man
Who did his vict’uals dearly love

He had from somewhere got a cook
Was object of the jealousy
Of all the friends who like himself
Dedicated gourmands be

Adding one pleasure to the next
These friends he loved to entertain
Finding any small pretext
Their company to gain

Nor when invited did these friends
Overly protest
They knew he was a host that
Would provide the very best

One day this man and his cook
Creative heads together put
To see if there a theme may be
Round which it might be good

To organize a supper
To which the muster could invite
Providing both a physical
And a mental delight

He told his boon companions of
The request he’d made his cook —
Consult his own exper’ience to
Just throw away the book

And come up with the finest food
Of all, his own good judgment in
Their host would be surprised as they
As all to dine that night begin

The day at last arrived, the master
By his cook from kitchen barred
Performing silent mysteries
With meat and spice and lard

When to unveil the hot repast
Was all to do which yet remain
The master asked the cook
His choice of dishes to explain

Our chef lifted the lids up
One by one of every dish
Proceeding to make good upon
His master’s spoken wish

“You see, we here have tongue of beef
And here the tongue of lamb
With which I hope you all will be
Delighted as I am

We have both baked and breaded tongue
And tongue cooked a la Boulognese
Then tongues of songbirds en pate
To go with wine and cheese…”

When every dish had been described
The master asked him how
Arrived he on selections at
This dinner would allow

“Ah,” cried the cook, “It is my thought
At, least, so it has seemed to me
That by the tongue to us is brought
Our greatest ecstasy

The tongue delivers words of hope
Of admiration and of praise
Of small and large encouragements
Our flagging energy to raise

What wondrous chills, how warmly glow
The sweet sensations that we feel
When close whispered sweet nothings make
Us positive that love is real

Indeed, of all substances are
All nourishment among
Nothing may be well classed above
The sweet, affirming tongue!”

Their interest aroused
As well as appetite appeased
The chef found himself summoned back
With the pate and cheese

And asked by all those present
A second dinner to prepare
But this time, rather than the best,
He should the worst prepare

Our gallant chef accepted the
Challenge additional
Returning to his kitchen
This new problem o’er to mull

Our friends all gathered eagerly
When that second evening came
Wond’ring what the dishes were
The clever cook would name

After he made his entrance
Flourishing, he bared each plate
A tiny smile upon his face
As he their food elaborate

“In this dish we have scrambled tongue
In this one tongue a l’orange be
Here, large tongue stuffed with smaller tongue
And here, tongue fricasee…”

Amazement was the order of
That list’ning company
Of course demanding he
Reveal his reasons instantly

“It is the tongue,” observed he then
“With others’ fate a man may play
It is using the tongue
A loyal friend we may betray

The tongue it is with which we cut
Companions to the quick
Sharper than a stiletto
In the self esteem it stick

Far longer than physical wounds
Continuing to damage do
Each fresh memory of the same
Stabs at the heart anew

A weapon passing lethal
A poison passing slow
Without a doubt a tongue
Is the worst thing that we can know!”

The friends all smiled, the master raised
A glass his old retainer to
Declaring “There will surely be
A bonus in this work for you

“For no money could recompense
No amount could ever pay
The wisdom, wit and nourishment
Which you’ve provided us this day!”

*****

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