Ambiguity No.70 Poem by cahen thrips

My second deepest desire was to be
a secret ingredient of a vegan fish curry;
not to be eaten but to be set aside
because my heat is too much for the tongue;
when all else is served I would be
left in the skillet having performed
my role of bringing body and flavour
to an otherwise thinly ambiguous dish,
watching you dab a napkin against your lips.

Mission accomplished; now I meet my demise
as a sacrificial offering - I am content,
for what remains of me is no more
than a snake skin shed, albeit ranking high
on the Scoville Scale, my essence now drawn,
extracted, converted into a delightful
experience, for my first deepest desire
was to bring pleasure to you and with a soft sigh
and a burp you let me know I've succeeded.

March 2023