Lenten pudding Poem by Vera Rich

When I come home from church in Lent
And a quick supper's my intent,
Swift to prepare, which does not break
The fasting rules, I often make
A cous-cous pudding - simple, sweet,
And - Lent or no - a joy to eat.
I take a porridge dish and pour
In cous-cous grains (half-full, no more),
Add dried fruit - any kind will do,
Currants, cranberries, apples too,
Apricots, dates, whatever I've
Stored there within my pantry-hive.
I heat some water - no great chore -
And when it's boiling, then I pour
It in the bowl. As cooks know well,
At once the cous-cous starts to swell
And fills the bowl near to the rim.
(Careful! It must not over-brim!)
Then the last touch - I take some honey
(Not the thick kind - it must be runny!)
Two or three table-spoons at least,
Pour it on top... then what a feast!
Scrumptious - but absolutely free
From meat and dairy luxury,
So I tuck in, with joy intense,
To food that's 'fast' - in either sense!