Rainbow Menu

(Durban, South Africa)

Overlooking the harbour on the twentieth floor

Breakfasting on food I’ve never tasted before

The fun is in mixing the exotic and unknown

With stuff that I’m familiar with at home

Streaky back bacon with banana, lightly grilled

Pork sausages with pawpaw and mango, slightly chilled

Smoked salmon slices with sweet pickled figs

Biltong with guava and scrambled eggs

Calamari, pineapple and I suppose a

Strawberry yoghurt goes well with samosa

If the waiters think me mad they don’t let it show

‘Another kipper with your kiwi fruit, sir? Just let me know.’

Biryani, salami and butternut squash

My platter a palette of multicoloured nosh

Lucky the poet composing this oration

On a rainbow menu in a rainbow nation.