Blair Gowrie writes

 The Lady Cook

One of these cooks a woman was,
direct and forthright, and because
her eyes of brown and auburn hair,
lips of red and complexion fair
and steely nerve and smile so tight
and giving orders left and right
made all who worked there live in fright.
No-nonsense style, and assertive too,
while delegating work to do,
should any cook show tardiness
and fail to prove his real finesse,
she would at once her work forsake
and scold him for his laziness.
Yes, brash and bossy she was at times,
wanting to install some discipline
in all her comrades in the kitchen,
and to give to them some sense of pride
in their work and occupation.
Her cooking was plain, no elaboration,
no garlic for her or similar spices,
salt, pepper and mustard were her devices.

-- From The Adventures of George

 Thatcher Cutting up Britain -- Roger Law

Blair Gowrie writes

George had under him five cooks

of various characters and looks

with great experience of many a year

in numerous countries both far and near,

all culinary experts of great art,

who were always ready to provide

any dish the customer might decide

to order from the menu cards.

And among these fellows there was one

who in preparing fancy dishes some

might say this man a genius is,

as skills as precious and pure as his

in creating flavours of such power

are hard to find in this world of ours.

Tall he was with a face so narrow

his nose projected like an arrow,

and of his country he was so proud

that never a person was allowed

to make the slightest disparagement

without receiving an icy glance.

Disliked he was by all his fellows,

his manner haughty, hard, not mellow,

which caused all kinds of minor friction

with his colleagues in the kitchen.

[from "The Adventures of George"]

 Cooks in the Kitchen -- Joseph Watson

Blair Gowrie writes

A Sunny Day

Sometimes I like to sit in the shade

On a park bench, watch the ducks on parade,

In a long line, smoothly swimming somewhere,

Causing hardly a ripple as they move here and there,

And gliding so gracefully, supercilious swans,

Plucking at grass from newly mown lawns,

See the flowers in bloom in yellows and reds,

Artfully arranged in bright flower beds,

The bees buzzing busily as they do their day’s work,

Hear the pigeon wings flap and the little birds chirp,

With trees in the background, every size, every shape,

Their reflections outlined in the shimmering lake,

The leaves multi-coloured in orange, brown and green,

Creating a sublimely harmonious scene,

All this, and the sun’s rays caressing the ground,

Tell me it’s heaven on earth that I’ve found.