A humble immigrant food gets star treatment in “Falafel” by Marty Elster & Joan Axelrod-Contrada.
Falafel
by Martin Elster & Joan Axelrod-Contrada
Middle Eastern immigrants brought their chickpea- and fava-bean fritters to America, where falafel discovered that street food could travel very well indeed.
I’m the working man of food.
I’m always in a decent mood.
No truffles, cheese, or caviar.
I’m the Mideast pushcart star.
My bosses are working guys as well.
They man the counter. “Next!” they yell.
Me and my girlfriend, Pita, keep
our romance under wraps. They heap
tomatoes, pickles, and tahini
inside of her. She rocks a bikini!
Now I’m in the USA.
They’ve hired me. I make more pay.
And they’ve assigned me now to Salad,
Limp with envy, Pita’s pallid.
Salad’s fresh when I’m lying on her.
Her boss keeps piling work upon her.
Salad loves to flirt and tease.
She says, “You’re great with greens and peas.”
Pita hears. “Don’t be a fool.
I knew you back when greens weren’t cool.”
I can’t help wondering: Who am I?
I’m health food now? A working guy
is who I was. “Pita, my sweet,
you’re still the wrap that can’t be beat.”
“Oh, Falafel, my hunky fritter,
you set my ticker all aflitter.
If Salad gets too fresh with you,
I’ll give that bowl a toss or two.”
They bake me now as well as fry.
At first I grumbled, won’t deny.
But Pita says, “You’re still my man.
Same guy, now with a wellness plan.”
Martin Elster & Joan Axelrod-Contrada
Martin Elster is a poet and retired percussionist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
Joan Axelrod-Contrada is a longtime journalist and columnist for the Daily Hampshire Gazette and the author of more than 20 books for young readers. Together, they share a love of words and rhyme,