Jeera
Cradled on her tongue
the bitter taste of cumin.
She watched the oil
bubble the tiny pan awake
– no handle –
it’s always the little pans
that break. Separate
from shapes familiar.
Roasting the seeds
she felt the heat
mouthing flames
to her fingers.
* Helen Pletts is a regular IS&T contributor. She says about this piece “I was invited to attend some Indian cookery classes recently… which I enjoyed very much… though whether the lessons will improve my cooking is questionable(!!)” Jeera is Hindi for the Indian spice caraway cumin seeds.
