“Abuela’s magic kitchen” by Bradley Adalberto Álvarez
Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets’ daily poetry dispatch. Read “Abuela’s magic kitchen” by Bradley Adalberto Álvarez, part of the League’s Fresh Voices program.
Abuela’s magic kitchen
By Bradley Adalberto Álvarez
It possessed the hills of Santiago de Cúba,
tendrils of sticky garlic steamed calles,
caked afternoon air. Rum slurring men
paused dominó games, fluttered their eyes,
inhaled ambrosia. Bay leaf, cumin, oregano,
and salt scattered by the Caribbean Sea. Arrayed
on a white cotton tablecloth, frijoles polished
to black agate by calloused hands. She sang
Carlos Gardel as she removed pebbles, stalks,
and soybeans. Pressure cooker valve hissed
l
ike a dozing goose, the weight rocked as she
fried green pepper, garlic and onions. I was born
with the gift of Abuela’s recipes. When my pressure
cooker rocks, it sings Por una Cabeza.
Copyright © Bradley Adalberto Álvarez
Bradley Adalberto Álvarez is a bicultural poet living in Richmond, BC. He was recently shortlisted for the Malahat Review’s Far Horizons Award for Poetry, and was also shortlisted for the University of Toronto’s Marina Nemat award for creative writing. He was the recipient of the Janice Colbert Poetry Award in 2022.
Fresh Voices is a publication and workshop program created by and for the League’s associate members, curated and edited by Erin Vance.
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