Collard Greens Dreams Poem by Thomas Dooley

A generational recipe of telling our history
Salt and seasonings bring flavor to the stories.
The vinegar brings a tartness to the bitterness of truth.

Collard greens dreams
Something so simple becomes a king's feast.
Comforting and warm, its history makes you want more.

The passing of traditions and rituals of life
From the grandmother's lips to granddaughter's ears
Words filled with pride one day it will be her time.

Collard greens dreams
Something so simple it is fit for a queen.
Satisfying flavor cooked with love.

Planting the seeds in the gardens of ancestry
The tomatoes, papers, beans, and the collard greens
Life reaching up from the soil, feeling the warmth of the sun

Collard green dreams
Something so simple one test making a poor man feel like a prince.
Nourishing memories it holds the history of this recipe is a gift.


©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2021