Vegan Options

For those who abhor meat, fish or dairy products, what do you eat? This the the first reaction you get once you tell a new acquaintance. They will be puzzling over what exactly constitutes your daily diet. Fortunately with the varieties that Caribbean Food offers, delightful dishes should always be at hand. This poem helpfully lists the variety of foods.

Vegan Delight

Ackees, chapatties
Dumplins an nan, Channa an rotis
Onion uttapam,
Masala dosa
Green callaloo
Bhel an samosa
Corn an aloo.

Yam an cassava
Pepperpot stew,
Rotlo an guava
Rice an tofu,
Puri, paratha
Sesame casserole,
Brown eggless pasta
An brown bread rolls.

Soya milked muesli
Soya bean curd,
Soya sweet sweeties
Soya's de word,
Soya bean margarine
Soya bean sauce
What can mek medicine?
Soya of course.

Soya meks yoghurt
Soya ice-cream,
Or soya sorbet
Soya reigns supreme,
Soya sticks liquoriced
Soya salads
Try any soya dish
Soya is bad.

Plantain an tabouli
Cornmeal pudding
Onion bhajee
Wid plenty cumin,
Breadfruit an coconuts
Molasses tea
Dairy free omelettes
Very chilli.

Ginger bread, nut roast
Sorrell, paw paw,
Cocoa an rye toast
I tek dem on tour,
Drinking cool maubi
Meks me feel sweet,
What was dat question now?
What do we eat?

*************

by Benjamin Zephaniah
Book: Talking Turkeys, ISBN 0-14-036330-0
Published by Puffin Books