Magnificent
member of
most basic
food group;
venerated
versatile
starch to
fill bellies,
fuel for
farm work;
enjoyed
raw… like
an apple –
aardappel,
pomme
de terre
…or
baked
(twice),
boiled,
mashed,
scalloped,
broasted,
hashed
and
browned;
Favorite
fast food
fried so
French; first
proffered in
Paris by
push-cart
vendors
and now
featured
at McD’s
“fine dining”.
I say
“potato”,
you say
“patata”,
you say
“tuber”
I say
“spud”…
derived
from the
simple spade
…and the
Society for the
Prevention of
Unwholesome
Diet (!?)
-19th century,
(Great Britain).
Not sanctioned
by church,
degenerate
delicacy
thought
unbiblical
(with no cross
references)
until
sprinkled
with
“holy water”;
now just
sprinkled
liberally
with
salt.
A famine
of this
humble root
forever
changed the
histories
of two nations
transforming
lives of
immigrants,
and
indigenous
alike,
by laying rails
across
a continent.
So what
do you
think,
Mr. Potato
Head?
Is this
just a
wild
truffle?
I think not.
It’s no
small
potatoes!
a poem in my pocket 
Nov 26, 2013 @ 13:17:46
I missed this one…Late…but enjoyed your historical references…clever!
Nov 26, 2013 @ 19:54:01
Thank you!
Nov 23, 2013 @ 12:43:43
Love the potato.. a great subject for an ode… and a great story to tell as well.. Also changed our country…crucial actually.
Nov 24, 2013 @ 23:06:07
Now I need to research more potato history…Sweden, is it?
Nov 23, 2013 @ 03:56:28
I enjoyed the ode to the venerate potato..so versatile and loved as you so well described;)
Nov 24, 2013 @ 23:04:18
Thankkkks for reading, kkkkaty 🙂
Nov 22, 2013 @ 23:36:25
I love this. It’s like a mini history and a wonderful menu all at once!
Nov 22, 2013 @ 23:45:39
Thanks for stopping by for a “bite”!
Nov 22, 2013 @ 18:33:30
ha. nice refs in this…love the potato head…and the ref to its history as well…what changed for it…and even how we pronounce it…ha…i rather love mine diced and fried in bacon grease with onion….mmmm….
Nov 22, 2013 @ 23:44:44
Thanks, Brian 🙂 Would you believe I had to describe who Mr.Potato Head is to my youngest sons!?
Nov 22, 2013 @ 17:37:41
Oh, yes! An ode to the humble spud … now that’s what I’m talkin’ about … smiles.
Seriously, this is very good. The way you have included historical facts, the effect of famine on two nations and a few sideways comments on contemporary cuture shows us there is much more to the potato than most of us ever stop to consider.
Nov 22, 2013 @ 23:40:24
Thanks so much for your comments, Tony!