3rd place winner in the published poets section of the 2021 Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Robert Burns Poetry Competition

A Family History in Porridge

1

Grandma’s halesome porridge

naut but saut and water,

a pinch of Selkirk grace

2

Poverty porridge

some wad eat that want it—

Great-great-great-grandma’s

gruel for a gruelling life

3

Detested porridge

some hae meat and canna eat—

grandchildren, each morning

slip Gran’s slops to the ducks

4

Prescription porridge

daughter’s oatmeal remedies

for hangovers and depression

5

China porridge

Son-in-law’s rural village,

bent over bowls and chopsticks,

congee with pickles and peanuts

6

Mā ma’s special occasion porridge

zhōuwith mántou bun, ripe tofu, or pídàn,

blackened one-hundred-year-old egg

7

Discrimination porridge

Samuel Wilson, 1755 in his Dictionary of the English language

— Oats — a grain in England fed to horses,

that in Scotland, supports the people

8

Māori porridge

Grandpa, fluent in te reo,

partial to Scotch with kanga pirau,

fermented corn, a hint of blue

9

Fortune porridge

Great-great-grandpa, steeped in etiquette

brandishing his spurtle,

stirring clockwise

10

Eco porridge

save yer breath tae cool yer parritch planet

vegan, spray free

sustainable

11

Assimilation porridge

Son-in-law switches congee

for Harraway’s oats

with peanut chilli Chinese twist

12

Single-mother’s porridge

too many pots

not enough

hands

13

Sister’s left-over porridge

hens’ favourite

returned in eggs

14

Uncle’s left-over porridge

kneaded, baked: oatmeal focaccia

topped with olives

15

Celebration porridge

raise yer parritch-bicker

lift yer kilt chopsticks

16

Sun-rain-sky porridge

peace in the oat

and in the earthly bowl