Sestina verse by Max Hamilton
Photography by Stephen Hamilton
Spice Sestina
On hidden plants- where sunlight melts-
In photosynthesis’ of flavor
Dark and deep delicious vapor
Sleeping soundly ‘till they’re plucked
They dream of taste- of being simmered
Earthen treasures- earthen dust
Where workshops process root to dust
While fingers sprinkle- stir- and melt
In handmade/ automatic simmer
Natural essence turned to flavor
A destiny since they were plucked-
Masicated into vapor
Pyramids made out of vapor
Markets just for selling dust
Where merchants- chefs- and gardeners pluck
Up in the air their perfume melts
In thickened wafts of pungent flavor
This- an atmospheric simmer
In a pour the granules simmer
Making little puffs of vapor
A bag which designates the flavor
A sack of coin- a sack of dust
For savor-sweet and later melting
Into small bags- purpose-plucked
A jar from a high shelf is plucked
And added to a gentle simmer
Where it’s expected- scatter- melt
The chef might sip the perfume-vapor
Thanking the earth for certain dusts
And god for all the flavor
The steaming hints of heavens flavor
Can rise up where the nostrils pluck
The miracle of blended dust
And its inclusion in the simmer
Makes a feeding-craze of vapors
And within our guts it melts
A little dust
Thats holding flavor
We make it melt
We find it plucked
So heat the simmer
Breathe the vapor
Tasting India, an order-out restaurant in Chicago, hand blends classic Indian spices in micro batches. If you are interested in these authentic spice blends and more, here's their website.
