What should we have for dinner?
I don’t know!
I actually don’t feel hungry
How about you?

The pizza I made yesterday
Is all but gone
What do you think about
A stir-fry?

Sounds good
But we have to prepare so much
All those veggies
Need to be cut

How about a curry
That sounds fine
But you like it hot
And the children, mild

Chicken nuggets
Is their favorite
But I know
You don’t like them

How about fesengoon?
That sounds great
But I feel so tired
It’s so late

We’ll pick up something
At the grocery store
Pre-fab food
Today, we need you!

It’s not healthy,
But I don’t care
Tomorrow is
Another day!

I’ll be good and
Cook some food
That tastes like what
My mother cooked!

Home-cooked meals
Prepared with care
The smell used to
Perfume the air!

Those good old days
Are all but gone
Today we sometimes eat
Out of a box!

Lida Berghuis
October 5th, 2003

So tell me dear, do you cook?
Can you make fesenjoon*, or tah cheen*?
Can you make curry or a quiche?

Only when I choose to
Only when I wish…
When friends are over
And bring some cheer
That’s when I cook!

When Venus is in Saturn
And Jupiter dances with Pluto!
When the stars are just so
And the moon just so
When I’m happy and inspired
When I’m rested and not tired
That’s when I cook!

When the mood is right and
Friends come to play
When I think of the smile
I’ll see on their faces!
That’s when I cook!

Cooking is an art
So I hear
And relaxing too
I find that weird!
When I want to make others happy
That’s when I cook!

Lida Berghuis
December 9th 2002

* These are Persian dishes.