You gotta be careful what you put up.
It’s like Fish ‘N’ Chips.
One bad batch and people remember.
That bad taste in the mouth.
You gotta serve it up fresh, hot, well salted,
people like salt and it has to have crunch
and zing.
It has to hit those taste buds.
Make the mouth water.
Run with melody.
A good poem is like a bag of fish ‘n’ chips.
Not too fussy.
Just the basics, a little poetry with herbs and spices
and that secret ingredient people keep talking about.
Something you can savour.
Ponder over for a while.
You develop trust,
Yeh, that little guy behind the counter, he knows how to do it.
And you keep coming back.
That’s how you want it to be.
A good poem is like Fish ‘N’ Chips.
John Malone 
What a tasty analogy of poetic appetite and preferences of thereof, I’ll take mine with a splash of malt vinegar. I love this.
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coming up sir 🙂 I love fish ‘n’ chips: sublimity in the everyday 🙂
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actually I wish we had fish ‘n chip places here.
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you don’t? that’s dreadful; it’s also strange: there are very few places in Australia where you wouldn’t find at least one such shop —
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It is, there are a couple of corporate chain one ugh bad news. There were two back home in Chicago, I was near downtown (a lot of traffic to get to it) the other on the south side of the city (better to travel there only during the day). So your need for fish ‘n chips better be like a fix. 😂 I do occasionally make my own at home when the cravings come.
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that’s good; it’s a very healthy food,; my favourite is King George Whiting, Atlantic Salmon and Snapper though there are quotas on the latter for another year 😦
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Wrap mine in a newspaper, or better yet, I’ll just order mine from your usual spot. Trust your taste. 🙂
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yes, the best do come wrapped in newspaper ; you remember that Stones’ song: ‘Who wants yesterday’s papers?’ [from ‘Between the Buttons’] well , the fish ‘n’ chip man does 🙂
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See, I knew you wouldn’t steer me wrong. 😉
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that ‘secret ingredient’ I spoke about in my analogy … you know what it is? it’s ‘voice’: our unique style of writing: no one plates up a poem like you or me 🙂
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It’s all in the ghoongat garnish 😉 master chief.
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I feel like we could make some pretty great dishes together. I’m a pretty good sous chef. Night.
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thanks; I agree; we may get around to it one day; let’s look for opportunities — but keep it simple for starters 🙂 ninite
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Nice one….
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do you like fish ‘n’ chips, Don, or would you have replaced them with another food item?
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Love fish n chips……
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Good on you, Don; I don’t know anyone who doesn’t 🙂 I bet your man, Stan, is partial to a serve of fish ‘n’ chips 🙂
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He runs Stan’s Fish n Chippery on the beachfront….customer asks for Murray Cod…. he throws a line in (fresh-caught fish at Stan’s is his motto)…..wonders why he doesn’t get a bite…..they end up settling for shark….the catching makes a talking point for observers….
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that Stan 🙂 he means well, Don 🙂
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He’s not a complete idiot. Still a few bits missing…or something like it…
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🙂
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Love this!! A very tasty analogy!!
No fish for me – but a deep fried pizza supper with lashing of salt and vinegar please!! 😉🏴🖤
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🙂 thanks; pizza goes down well too 🙂
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Absolutely! 😁🖤
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Yes… that secret ingredient is interesting. The whole MacDonalds business model was based on predictability – whatever store you go to, you know what you’re getting. I think secret ingredients add that dash of spice which only the voice can supply. But even if it’s the same voice, it’s not predictable. The quality of the fish and chips is one thing but then there’s the particular zest of the vendor – their smile, their slice of lemon, their home made chicken salt…
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so true: Dino at ‘The Stunned Mullet’ at Henley Beach has it down to a fine art 🙂 and I like how you phrased that: ‘..even if it’s the same voice, it’s not predictable’ 🙂 uummmm: food for thought 🙂
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I do love fish and chips, it’s a whole food group here in QLD, but yes… You learn quickly which ones to pass by next time 😏
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you certainly do: you soon find your favourites and patronize them like we do . bloggers we follow 🙂
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i love the comparison and connection. and sometimes i love them for the greasy paper they come wrapped in
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thanks, Beth: I woke up this morning with a greasy poem in my head, so I rushed to the laptop and wrote it down 🙂
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what else is one to do? )
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This poem is making me hungry
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LOL !! you shoulda been me while I was writing it: I had never felt such hunger 🙂
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Not to mention all those memories associated with all those fish and ship snacks with friends at the beach.
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what a way to bring people together 🙂
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A terrific analogy John, well done.
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thanks Hobbo; glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Hi John, So vivid is your love for fish and chips you almost made me want to get some. I don’t like fish and chips, but I loved your clever comparison of it to poetry. 🙂
eden
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thanks, Eden, I wrote this in a rush of enthusiasm in about 10 minutes, allowing a further ten for attending to any rough spots 🙂 if you love something it’s not hard 🙂
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I like this comparison especially the crunch and saltiness that keeps people coming back for more.
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thanks: you need some ingredient to keep people coming back for more; I think it’s the salt and tang of one’s unique voice 🙂
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Now I know what I want for lunch. Thanks, John! You are the poet’s pied piper!
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you can’t beat good, old-fashioned fish ‘n’ chips 🙂 enjoy !
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