In transit -- Anthony Bourdain
Iran
scatter me across borders, my broad chest
fitted me in when I broke nan with
men whose husky voice made Farsi sound
like marinated meat in luscious herbs
Italy
Shed my memories to the sea
my honeyed skin tone merged
into the reflections of Sicilians
sipping wine and sharing nuanced
differences between sea bass and sea bream
Vietnam
Silence my heart into the place
that loaned me its tender soul
along with handshakes, and aroma
of simplicity as they relished bowls
of lemongrass broth and pickled fish
Japan
Surround my tatto’ed limbs with Geishas
so they can envelop me into a quiet
let me float, and experience the lightness
of their land, with the same abundant content
that came with warm miso soup and ramen
Spain
Set me to rest, so my curiosity
continues to merge into the history
of Barcelona, where I relished a potent
legacy of unfinished art as I shared
paella and afternoon siestas
And more
Preserve my jaw, my souvenir to you
representing my potent desire for a full life
the jutting jaw that took me to places
opened crisp conversations, encouraged
exotic experiments in food that were
bold, delectable and expansive
In spite of
the frequent contradictions
with my own diminished load
of days that I drifted
and nights that were seared
I found moments that mattered
through the honesty of my critics
unfiltered laughter of strange company
tears shed over meals in unknown homes
keep watching
the afterglow of my unknown parts
let me return to you my curly grey
the reserved twist in my wood fired smile
the majestic marinate scents in my hands
the crushed pepper like freckles on my neck
let me remind you to watch for the weary
in my enthusiastic voice of replayed episodes
let me nudge you to find the pygmy in giants
scatter me across borders, my broad chest
fitted me in when I broke nan with
men whose husky voice made Farsi sound
like marinated meat in luscious herbs
Italy
Shed my memories to the sea
my honeyed skin tone merged
into the reflections of Sicilians
sipping wine and sharing nuanced
differences between sea bass and sea bream
Vietnam
Silence my heart into the place
that loaned me its tender soul
along with handshakes, and aroma
of simplicity as they relished bowls
of lemongrass broth and pickled fish
Japan
Surround my tatto’ed limbs with Geishas
so they can envelop me into a quiet
let me float, and experience the lightness
of their land, with the same abundant content
that came with warm miso soup and ramen
Spain
Set me to rest, so my curiosity
continues to merge into the history
of Barcelona, where I relished a potent
legacy of unfinished art as I shared
paella and afternoon siestas
And more
Preserve my jaw, my souvenir to you
representing my potent desire for a full life
the jutting jaw that took me to places
opened crisp conversations, encouraged
exotic experiments in food that were
bold, delectable and expansive
In spite of
the frequent contradictions
with my own diminished load
of days that I drifted
and nights that were seared
I found moments that mattered
through the honesty of my critics
unfiltered laughter of strange company
tears shed over meals in unknown homes
keep watching
the afterglow of my unknown parts
let me return to you my curly grey
the reserved twist in my wood fired smile
the majestic marinate scents in my hands
the crushed pepper like freckles on my neck
let me remind you to watch for the weary
in my enthusiastic voice of replayed episodes
let me nudge you to find the pygmy in giants
[Anthony Bourdain’s birthday June 25 2019 is being recognized in his memory across the
world as Anthony Bourdain Day in honor of the man lost last year on June
8th under unfortunate circumstances]
St. Anthony Bourdain -- Lynette May
