Cilantro On Trial
Astrikos Katoikos
The kitchen clock hit midnight
The union filled the room
Paprika sold another lie
I'm smoky, buy me soon
Black pepper laughed
You're full of smoke
Paprika tipped her hat
Maybe so
But I'm not that
The door swung wide
Cilantro smiled
Nobody smiled back
Parsley called the roll
Rosemary stayed dry
Thyme ignored the drama
Cumin asked them why
Basil watched in silence
Nutmeg crossed the floor
Every eye agreed
We've seen this act before
Out
Out of every pan
Every meal you touch
Turns into cilantro again
Out
We've had enough
The whole damn kitchen
Calls your bluff
Garlic banged the table
Onion seconded the vote
Bay leaf never spoke
Still earned another note
Ginger cut the tension
Turmeric stained the page
Cinnamon stayed calm
Cloves uncaged their rage
Paprika cleared her throat
I've fooled plenty of cooks
Black pepper shrugged
We know
But even I
Would never
Destroy a dinner
Silence
Then applause
Out
No appeal tonight
Frauds may fool a customer
You erase every bite
Out
That's the final call
Every spice has flaws
Yours swallows them all